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Angel In The Attic	By : fusedtwilight Category: X-men Comics > AU - Alternate Universe Views: 5328 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own X-men, it is the property of marvel comics and in no way do i make a profit from this fic.

Chapter List
- 28
- 29
- 30
Angel in the Attic
Chapter 29
Fusedtwilight: Thanks to my beta Lisa for editing. Last chapter the Champions defeated Abreal, but now they must face a foe who is more cunning. Also don't forget to go to my author page to vote on your favorite champion.

Several days later the X-Men celebrated the wedding of Betsy and Warren.
True to their word, it was a private affair; only friends and family were allowed to attend.
Betsy's brother Brian and his wife Megan had flown all the way from England.
Hank and Scott were his groomsmen and Bobby was his best and Warren had always had a close friendship; they had been the youngest and the most wild of the young X-Men.
Betsy's maid of honor was Megan, Kitty, Rogue, Storm, were the bridesmaids.
The X-Men's new base was a place called Utopia. It was a small Island in the San Francisco Bay. The Island had been bought by Scott and Emma.
Xavier had left Scott and the original X-Men equal shares of his fortune. With Jean being dead, her shares were added to the other four.
The Island had previously been used as a private research facility. The X-Men had already begun to tear down parts of the buildings and add new areas.
The ceremony was beautiful, touching, and of course extravagant. No expense was spared. This was a day of celebration; it was a way for everyone to move on after what had happened with Bastion.
The party was held in one of the buildings. Garlands and streamers had been hung up and an entire buffet had been prepared.
Betsy looked simply radiant. Warren himself was happier then Michael had ever seen them, he was sure if he used his soul vision he would see them both glowing with all kinds of happy colors.
Michael was dancing with Anna. They had Megan sneak her over. Sadly, she couldn't stay long, Michael was just glad he could spend a little bit of time with her.
"This is so wonderful. I hope my wedding is this great."
She gave Michael a smirk and he blushed.
"Hey Anna...have you thought of our future?" Michael asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Well...do you see us together? One day doing...this?"
She gave him a stunned look. "You're not proposing, are you?"
"What no! I am just wondering...um...do you think we would ever...settle down and you know...have a few kids?"
Or twelve. Michael thought to himself, remembering his trip to the future.
"Oh...well, I never really thought that far ahead...do you want to get married?" she asked.
"Well...one day, yeah," Michael said.
She smiled. "I would like that."
"You would?"
"Yeah. You, me, and a few kids," she said.
"How many kids would you want?" Michael asked.
"Not a lot. Two or three, any more would be a hassle. I grew up in a big family and let me tell you...why are you smiling?"
Hearing what she said and knowing what the future held for them, Michael could not help but smile.
If only she knew.

The spirits gathered in the home of the Empyreal spirits at the Citadel of the Pure, which was located in the Burning Plans.
There were several of them, each of them immensely tall, each of them had wings, and each of them were possessed with inhuman beauty.
"My brothers, fortune favors us this night," Phanes said.
"What do you speak of?" An empyreal spirit with bronze-colored skin asked.
"The king of the Neyaphem Azazel has begun a quest for the dial of time. An artifact he will use to travel into the past and kill Yahweh before he is born. He has already fount one piece and will soon find the other."
"But how is that fortunate for us? Yahweh may have betrayed us but without him we would not have the Cheyarafim," the bronze-skinned spirit said.
"Simple, Talos. When Azazel accomplisheshis goal the old timeline will cease to exist. As the old timeline dies away, the barriers between our world and theirs will cease to exist for the smallest of seconds. We will use this opportunity to snatch the boy before he can be erased and bring him to us."
"What you are talking about doing will require very precise timing, Phanes. If we are off by just a millisecond, then all our plans will be for naught."
"Do not forget who we are. We are the Empyreal spirits; the guardians of the holy flame. Plucking one boy from a dying timeline is well within the sphere of our power," Phanes said.

Back at Adonai's mansion, Azazel had broken into the vault.
It was easy, with his teleportation powers and his mystic knowledge it was easy to rid himself of the words Adonai had placed around the vault, allowing him to teleport in.
Of course the guards had tried to stop him, but they were no match for him.
He stood in front of the last piece of the sundial. All he had to do was-
BAMF!
He teleported out of the way just in time. A sphere of angel fire missed him, blowing up a good portion of the wall.
Azazel teleported to the other end of the room, sword held up, facing none other than Adonai himself.
"Well fuck me...if it isn't the king of the Neyaphem, Azazel," he said, his voice cold as ice.
"Yahweh," Azazel said his voice filled with venom.
The look the two shared was one filled with generations of bloodshed and hate. For many centuries the two had led their people in a war against the other, a war that left nothing but devastation in its wake and in the end robbed both of them of a kingdom.
"Oh wait, you go by Adonai now. Very clever, finding another way to call yourself God. Pretentious prick!"
Azazel teleported behind Adonai and was about to sever his head from his body when Adonai blazed with a white light that sent Azazel flying back. Before he could hit the wall he teleported safely to the middle of the room.
"Oh, still using the whole teleport-behind-your-enemy-and-chop-their-head-off ? Lame!" Adonai said. "That shit got old centuries ago."
Azazel summoned two more swords, his tail held the third.
Adonai summoned his own sword into his hand.
"So, just out of curiosity, how did you escape from your prison?" Adonai asked.
They circled one another, they had fought many times during the war; Adonai may be a fully-realized omega mutant, but he knew Azazel was not someone to underestimate. His own mutation coupled with his formidable black magic made him a dangerous foe.
"Over the centuries, I studied our prison, you people were clever. Turns out the Neyaphem drew our power from that place. They used our connection to that dimension to draw us in and lock us in it. But I figured out how to escape, at least for a time. Over the centuries, during my time on the earth, I sowed my seed into the womb of mutant women. A few years ago I called to my sons and daughters, controlling them using my blood that ran through their veins. They would have performed a ritual that would free me and my people. Of course the X-Men got involved."
"Yes, I believe one of their numbers is your spawn."
"Yes, Kurt. The boy may look like me but he has the same self-righteous principles your lot had," Azazel sneered.
"Yes, because enslaving the human race is not a dick move," Adonai shot back.
He ran at Azazel and swiped at him with his sword. Azazel parried the blow with the swords he held in his hand. He brought his tail back to swipe at him but Adonai head-butted the scarlet-skinned devil sending him flying back.
White light covered Adonai's body and he shot forward like a speeding comet but Azazel teleported out of the way before Adonai could hit him.
"So let me guess, the X-Men stopped you from freeing your people but knowing you, you left them behind to rot in that hell-pit while you escaped. Typical cowardice."
"At least my son didn't wipe out his race."
Adonai gave him a glare that burned hotter than magma.
"What? Too soon?" Azazel asked with a wicked grin.
"I am going to skin you alive and make a new pair of leather shoes!" Adonai snarled.
He slashed his sword through the air and a blade of concentrated angel fire shot out. Azazel held up his swords as he muttered a hurried incantation and hellish red flames covered his blades and he was able to deflect the blast.
The flames were made from hellfire, the polar opposite of the empyreal flame. It was one of the few things in creation that could be used to counteract it.
"You are either brave or stupid to come into my home and steal from me, Aazel, what madness would drive you to come here and take from me?" Adonai asked.
Azazel just smiled.
He began to rapidly teleport; soon the whole room was filled with black red smoke and the stench of brimstone. Adonai sensed the swords coming for him and sidestepped them.
When the smoke began to clear he saw a grinning Azazel standing several feet from him.
"Any last words?" Adonai asked raising his sword.
Azazel held up a stone sundial.
Adonai instantly recognized it. The sundial of time, it had been split in half many years ago; he had acquired one half. But if Azazel had both halves, then that could mean only one thing.
"NO!" Adonai yelled.
He flew at Azazel, but the demonic mutant vanished.
And then.
The world ended.

Michael opened his eyes.
He was staring at a marble ceiling with beautiful images of angels.
There was a soft glow, but it wasn't coming from the ceiling; it was coming from the ground. He stood up, he was standing in some kind of white glass that had a faint glow.
"Welcome, little Cheyarafim," a very loud voice said.
Michael looked up and he realized with a start that he was surrounded by several giant beautiful men. Each was about forty feet tall. They all varied in looks and appearance, but they all had an angelic quality.
"Welcome to the Burning Planes of the Empyreal Spirits."
The speaker had pitch-black skin, blue hair, four burning amber eyes and red wings. He glowed with a light that made it difficult to look at him.
Michael looked around and he realized the glass he was on was actually a table. He was like Alice after she drank the drink from the bottle.
"He seems a little skittish, Yahweh would be demanding answers by now," Talos remarked.
"Take into account that Yahweh and this boy had very different upbringings, that should come as no surprise," another of the spirits said.
The dark-skinned mutant glowed with a white light then reappeared in front of Michael. He was much smaller,though still much taller than Michael himself. He was taller then Adonai, at least eight-feet-tall.
"Pleasure to meet you, Michael Gabriel Bronson. I am Phanes. Leader of the Empyreal Spirits."
"Wait...I know of you, Adonai told me you helped him save his wife."
"And in return he was to help us...oh wait, that's right, he screwed us over," Phanes said dryly.
"I seem to recall him saying he was under the belief that your intentions were not so noble," Michael said.
"Yahweh is, as you mortals like to say-"
"An asshole," Talos said.
"A prick," a spirit with glowing red skin said.
"A douchebag," a spirit with long blonde hair and adorned in heavy silver armor said.
"I was going to say paranoid, but yeah, those help sum him up."
"Look, why am I here? One minute I am at a wedding the next I am here. And why do I feel so...strange?"
Since he awoke Michael felt odd. He felt like he was underwater. Only he was not drowning.
"This is the Burning World. In your world the empyreal fire only exists when summoned by white mages or those like you who are linked to it. But in some worlds like this, it exists in abundance."
Phanes tapped the glass they were standing on.
"This table is made from crystallized empyreal flame. It exists in the water, in the air, and in the ground. There are rivers of this wondrous substance running through this world. You draw your power from us, we draw power from the flame. The flame makes up eighty percent of this world. Your body senses it. Having spent all your life in a world where it does not exist, your body may feel a little overwhelmed for a while."
"But why am I here?" Michael asked.
"Because something terrible had happened."
Phanes waved his hand and a small tear in the fabric of space and time opened, showing various images to Michael.
"The Neyaphem king Azazel has traveled back in time using the sundial of time. He traveled to the past where he killed Yahweh before he was born. Without her mate to save her, Asherah, his wife, was killed by Selen who used her dark magic to steal Asherah's dormant powers for herself. Without the progenitors, the Cheyarafim never came to be and without any opposition, the Neyaphem had no problem conquering the world."
Michael saw Azazel, a crimson-colored version of Kurt, using a stone sundial to travel into the past. He saw him looming over a pregnant woman with a blade in his hands. Thankfully he didn't have to see what happened to Adonai and his mother, but the next image showed a chained woman; Asherah struggled but could not break free. A woman with pale skin and dark hair held out a dagger, preparing to cut out her heart.
The next image showed New York City as Michael knew it. Then it changed into something dark and twisted. The Statue of Liberty was gone, replaced by a statue of Azazel, and the buildings were bigger, taller, and more futuristic-looking.
"As your timeline began to die, we acted quickly and plucked you up before you could have vanished. So you could correct this mistake."
Michael was so stunned. His entire timeline was gone? Adoai never existed, so too did all his children. And that means all the generations descended from him was gone. Never born.
The Guthries were descended from Adonai; Jay's mutation proved that. And Franziska, she never existed either! Or Warren!
And the Bronson clan, Michael's family.
And of course Michael himself, but thanks to the spirits he was still here.
"And you can send me back? To stop Azazel?"
"Yes and no. Sadly our dimension is too close to the new timeline where time travel is not a possibility. All we can do is send you to the timeline that now exists, with a protection spell that will keep you from being erased, of course."
"Then how can I stop Azazel? The sundial?"
"No. Azazel has already destroyed that device. But there is a mutant in that world who can help you; his name is Gateway."
"I know of him. He is a mutant from Australia who can make portals to teleport people anywhere in the world," Michael said recalling the profile he read.
"He is also capable of opening portals through time as well. Find him and he will send you to the past and stop Azazel."
"But why are you doing this?" Michael asked.
"Because we are the good guys. There is a reason why we shaped Yahweh into what he is. Had we left him alone, his mutation would have been an omega mutant with powerful psionic powers. But we tempered with his genes, giving his power a connection to us."
"But what are you exactly?"
"Enough with these questions, you should be grateful for our help, child!" Talos rumbled.
"Now, now Talos, the boy is curious and he has right to be." Phanes pointed to the ceiling to the images. "I believe you have seen the similarities between us and the sons of God."
"Hard not to," Michael said.
"Well we are not the Sons of God. But we are the sons of another angel. Lucifer."
"The Devil?" Michael asked.
Phanes pointed to an image on the ceiling. It showed a beautiful angel holding several smaller angels, like figures in his hands, presenting him to a glowing humanoid figure sitting on some clouds. The figure was surrounded by singing serephs, ophanim danced in circles, and cherubs held up the throne with their wings.
"When God told the angels to bow before his greatest creation: man, Lucifer was appalled at the idea. So he created us, to show his father he could create as well, that we were more worthy of God's love then humans. God was impressed but was adamant in his belief in the superiority of man."
The next image showed the war in Heaven. There were two sides; one led by Lucifer the other by Michael. The spirits stood in the middle.
"When the war happened Lucifer expected us to help him since he was our creator."
The next image showed the spirits fighting on Michael's side.
"But we knew where our loyalties lay. Lucifer may have been our creator but he was too arrogant and prideful. We knew where the just side was and although it pained us to take arms against our creator, we sided with heaven."
The final image showed the spirits in the burning world, looking up into a beam of light that shined from the sky
"God rewarded us. He gave us this world and gave us dominion of it. He put us in charge of the protection of the earth from the dark spirits. The Cheyarafim were designed to be our agents on the mortal world."
"So you're just doing your job?"
"Exactly. The amount of suffering and sin in Azazel's world is appalling. I warn you Michael, steel your heart, for you are about to see hell on earth," Phanes warned.
"I have already seen hell, when my family was murdered and my friends savaged by ignorant zealots. Send me back and I will do my part."
Michael's voice was firm and his face was stern.
Talos chuckled. "Looks like he has a bit of Yahweh in him after all."

As it turned out, the spell to make Michael immune to the time alteration was going to take time.
Phanes entertained Michael while they waited.
They sat on top of a balcony at the top of a tower that was thousands of feet tall. The Citadel of Purity was actually several floating platforms with a city on each one.
Phanes told him each citadel belonged to one of the Empyreal spirits and his was the biggest of them all.
All the buildings were made from silver, gold, and crystallized angel fire. So when the light from the sun hit the towers, the view was truly amazing.
Phanes and Michael sat at a table and were being served food and drinks. The people that served them were not like the spirits. Yes, they were tall, very beautiful, and had wings, but they lacked the aura of power and majesty the spirits invoked.
"They are nephilim," Phanes explained.
Michael stared at the servants in wonder. Having studied all lore on angels he knew what nephilim were.
"But I thought they died in the flood?" Michael asked.
"The evil ones did. The pure and innocent ones we took in and they have served us faithfully ever since," Phanes said drinking from his cup.
One of the nephilim poured some water into his cup and Michael took a small sip. It was the best tasting water he had ever drank!
"Oh my gosh, this is good!" he exclaimed.
He quickly drank the whole cup. As he set it down he noticed his whole body was glowing but then it quickly faded.
"Your body is responding to the white fire. The flame, or as you call it, the angel fire is pure life. In large quantities it can be destructive but in small amounts it can be quit beneficial. For instance, all flora in this world does not rot and manufactures several times the produce it would in your world."
Michael ate from an apple and it tasted amazing! And just like with the water, Michael's body developed a faint white glow that soon faded.
"Soak in as much of the flame as you can, you will need all your strength for when you travel to Azazel's world."
"I will be able to handle it. I have seen some horrible things before," Michael said.
"You say that now. But the suffering you will see in your world now will break your heart."
Michael finished his meal and one of the servants took the plate.
"But if I stop Azazel then it will have never happened, right?"
"Yes. Time travel can be a very irritating subject even for us higher beings. All you have to do is find Gateway and he will send you back in time to save Yahweh and undo what Azazel has done."
Just then there was a sound of a ringing bell. Phanes stood up.
"It is time."
He led Michael to the edge of the balcony, the rail disintegrated and reassembled as a floating disk.
They both stepped onto it and began to fly to one of the floating citadels. As they flew Michael looked down, the clouds that the floating cities passed over broke and Michael saw a world beneath them.
Michael wondered what it was like down there. Was it like Eden? Pure, vibrant and rich? Were there other beings that lived down there? More nephilim perhaps?
They floated to the next city, landing on a platform.
"This is Eion's citadel. He is what you would call a scientist," Phanes explained.
They were escorted by several nephilim who took them down the tower and to one of the larger buildings of the citadel.
They were taken to a large room. There was a device that seemed to be made of stone that hung from the ceiling and several circular sigils were etched into it. There was a stone platform of similar design, right below the one on the ceiling.
There were glowing lines on the floor and ceiling around the machine.
Eion, the spirit with long blonde hair and silver armor was at a stone console. The console glowed with a blue light, forming a screen that showed dozens of shapes and forms.
Michael could not understand it, but Eion was moving them around to form new and more complex designs.
"Good, you're both here. I have calibrated the synchronization matrix, activated the polarization fields, and typed in the chrono protection parameters." Eion said.
"Um...okay," Michael said.
"Don't even bother acting like you know what I just said," Eion said.
"Basically, everything is all set," Phanes told Michael.
"Now, I am afraid there is a problem. We can send you back to Azazel's time. But I am afraid we can only send you back from the point where we originally pulled you back."
"What? You mean I won't be in Australia but America?" Michael asked.
"Yes, when we pulled you into our world it caused a tear to develop in the space where you had been. This tear will be used to send you back. It is the only place where we can send you to I am afraid."
"But how will I find Gateway?" Michael asked.
"That will be up to you," Eion said.
"But we better make sure you can blend in first," Phanes said.
He snapped his fingers and Michael's clothes changed. He had been wearing a black tux. But now he was wearing black worn pants with black combat boots. His new look was finished with a black vest over a dark denim shirt and a matching black cloak with a hood.
"Remember, stay hidden, Azazel remembers the old timeline. If you reveal yourself then he will know who you are and he has a whole empire now," Phanes said.
"I understand," Michael said.
"Alright, stand in the cronomatron and we'll begin," Eion said.
Michael walked onto the platform. Glass cylinders lowered from the upper portion of the device trapping Michael in it.
"Here we go," Eion said. He began to activate the machine. A light began to glow in the tube and a sudden feeling of vertigo hit Michael, he let out a scream but no sound came out.
He broke apart into hundreds of particles and disappeared.
"Your plan is working perfectly Phanes," Eion said.
"Don't they always?" Phanes asked.
"The Yahweh plan was a bit of a flop" Eion said.
"And now his heir will finish what he was supposed to. Never forget, Eion, I always have a backup plan."

Michael reappeared on Utopia.
Only it was just an island. There was no building there.
Michael took a second to adjust to the vertigo he was feeling.
After he got his bearings and took the time to come up with a new plan of action, he decided it was best to wait for nightfall. He would fly back to the mainland under the cover of night.
It was twilight so he wouldn't have to wait too long.
He had to figure out how to get to Australia and to Gateway.
His future depended on it.

In what should have been New York, Azazel held a party.
His mission was a success; he managed to find Yahweh's mother and drove his sword through her belly.
After that he found himself back in the present, only now things were very different.
He sat on a throne, the Neyaphem had gathered to celebrate the anniversary they had conquered the world.
Human slaves went about offering refreshments to the guests.
Raven sat at his legs, wearing that white dress she knew he loved.
In this reality she was both his concubine and his personal assassin.
"You seem extra cheerful tonight Azazel, what is the occasion?" she asked.
"Nothing, my dear. Just thankful for what I have," Azazel said.
BAMF!
Kurt teleported by his father's side. Like Azazel, he teleported in the same way, only his smoke was a dark blue with a purple light.
"Father, Selene is calling for you."
Azazel frowned. "What does that demon woman want?" he asked.
"She vould only say she vished to speak to you."
Azazel sighed. Selene was an unforeseen consequence. In the old world she had been a formidable force to be sure. But in this reality, after stealing the power of Yahweh's wife, Selene was a force Azazel had no choice but to treat as more than an equal.
Her capital was in Rome. She was worshiped as a goddess, because she had the power of one. She ruled her domain with an iron fist; her people adored her and feared her. Once every full moon dozens of them offer their lives for her to drain. Families groom their children to be offered to her as a tribute.
"Better hurry and speak with her, you know how she hates to be kept waiting," Raven warned.
That was true. Selene's hubris was even worse in this universe then the old one.
BAMF!
Azazel teleported to his private chambers. A large fireplace was lit with a roaring fire. Azazel reached to grab a jar off his table and threw some red powder into the flames.
"Selene, you called!" Azazel yelled.
Selene appeared in the fire. She looked the same as she did in the old universe, except she now had a pair of pitch black angel wings on her back.
"Azazel, what trickery are you up to?" she asked.
"It is the anniversary of my empire. I am up to all kinds of trickery," he said with a grin.
"Don't play me a fool! I sensed a disturbance in the space time continuum. I thought we agreed there was to be no time travel!"
In this universe Azazel had convinced Selene the biggest threat to their rule was time travel. Being immortal, Selene had her fair share of run-ins with time travelers.
Together they found any objects that allowed time travel and hunted anyone with even the smallest hint of time travel ability.
Azazel even had his own people killed if they had this ability.
"I assure you there has been no time travel in my kingdom."
She cocked her head to the side. "I know you are telling the truth, yet I know what I sensed."
"Perhaps a mutant just manifested this ability. It has happened before," Azazel said.
"There is something different about this presence. I can't put my finger on it, but...just hurry up and take care of it, Azazel."
"I will, perhaps you can tell me where you sensed this presence?"
"Somewhere on the west cost. Keep me informed. Let me know as soon as it is taken care of."
Her image disappeared and the fire returned to its normal form.
"I should have killed her as well," Azazel muttered.

Michael flew from the island to the nearest beach.
He had waited until it was pitch black outside before he flew.
He saw lights ahead and after he walked over the hill that overlooked the beach he took in what he saw.
If it had once been a city, it looked like it had been torn down in some epic battle then rebuilt from the leftovers. But further in there were buildings that were in perfect condition and shined with light. Black towers rose from the ground like thorns.
He could see a bridge in the distance; it was not the Golden Gate, at least not in this reality. It was still red, only now it had demonic statues on top and the pillars were statues of normal humans on the bottom supporting the bridge. The statues of the humans looked pained, as if the weight was too much to bear.
Michael raised his hood and began to walk down the hill. He decided to look around. Maybe he could find a boat? A ferry perhaps?
Michael was not sure if he could fly to Australia. He had no idea what the security around the continents was like in this world.
Not only that, but he wasn't sure if he could fly that far. Even Warren couldn't fly continental distances without taking a break.
His mission to reverse time was probably going to take a while. If he was going to be careful about things he had to take his time and try not to draw attention to himself.
Michael soon came to a road and began to walk alongside it. He heard a vehicle coming and turned to see a pair of lights coming down the road.
Deciding to not hitch a ride, he ignored it and continued on his way, but then the car, which was in such poor condition Michael wondered how it even stayed together, pulled up next to him. He noticed it seemed to have a faint green glow to it.
"Need a ride, friend?"
Michael turned and his mouth fell open in shock.
"What?" Julian asked.
Michael looked him over. He had his arms. He could see the flesh on his limbs.
Michael didn't know what shocked him more, the fact that Julian was here...or the fact he was driving that old piece of junk.
Being a spoiled brat, Julian was what many would call high maintenance.
"You got a problem, man?" Julian asked with a typical scowl.
"Sorry...I...I just thought you were someone else," Michael said.
"You need a ride?" he repeated.
"Oh...well...I kind of...um."
"Let me guess, you don't have a place to go to. Judging from your clothes I have to say you are either a runaway or an orphan, am I right?"
"Oh, you wouldn't be too far off on any of that," Michael said.
Julian just nodded. "Hop in, you can come hang with me at my place."
"Oh...okay."
Michael opened the door, fearful that it might fall off due to the sounds it was making.
Finding no seatbelt Michael simply held on as the vehicle glowed a brighter green glow and then took off at a speed that was both surprising and terrifying.
Michael realized Julian was using his telekinesis to move the car. The gas gauge read empty, and he figured the battery must still work for the lights to be on.
"So what's your name?" Julian asked.
"Michael."
"Michael? Why in the world would someone name you that?" Julian asked.
"What's wrong with Michael?"
Julian gave him an incredulous look. "Are you crazy? That's one of those angel names. It's forbidden to be named after those guys. Where you been?"
"Oh...ummm...see...my parents were...religious...kept me hidden in the attic...but they're dead now, so..."
Julian nodded. "I see. They were one of those quacks that still believe in that God guy. Thought he would come save us all and shit, but they got found out and you had to run to survive, right?"
"Uh...yeah," Michael said.
"Well Michael, my name is Julian. Be thankful I found you. Lots of desperate folk in these parts would gladly sell you out to Abyss and get some reward."
"Who?"
"Abyss. He is one of Azazel's kids. He's in charge of the city. Real fucking creep."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. He offered Michael one but Michael declined.
"Listen, we're going to have to give you a new name. How about Mike?"
"Sure, Mike is good," Michael said.
"Alright."
Julian lit up his cigarette, inhaled, and blew out the smoke.
"So...do you live with your parents?" Michael asked.
"My folks are dead. I live in a communal home where a bunch of the other gutter trash lives. Don't worry, you'll fit in just fine."

They had passed many buildings on their way to Julian's home.
They were all rundown and most looked like they should be condemned.
This part of the city was obviously the slums.
The place where Julian lived was not that much better. It was one of the taller buildings in the area and one of the few that had electricity.
"Not bad, huh?" Julian asked.
"No, it's pretty nice," Michael said.
"We all work together to keep it going. Many of the others hate us because we have an easier time making money. It helps that some of us are mutants and all," Julian said. He gave Michael a quick and hard look. "You got any problems living with mutants?"
"No," Michael said.
"Good. We don't tolerate any of that anti-human or anti-mutant bullshit. This is a place where both can live in peace. Got it?"
Michael nodded his head.
"Alright, come on."
Michael followed Julian up to the building. He didn't even bother knocking, just opened the door.
"I'm home!" he yelled.
Michael could hear lots of people moving about the house. Some children had come to greet Julian at the door to hug him before running off.
"Julian!"
A woman with brown hair flung herself into Julian's arms and kissed him. Her hair was short so Michael didn't recognize her at first.
It was Sofia.
"I am glad you're home. Please tell me you got the money."
"I did, babe. Listen, I want you to meet Mike."
Sofia glanced at Michael. She looked him up and down before she extended her hand.
"Hello."
"Hi," Michael said.
"Mike is going to be living with us from now on."
Sofia snapped her gaze to Julian with a frown.
"What?"
"He's an orphan and he's new to the area, Sofia."
Before she could respond the door opened and a woman wearing...almost nothing walked in.
"God, what a night," she said with a groan. She had tan scaly skin and snake-like eyes. She was also very beautiful.
"Hey, Stacy," Julian said.
"S'up." She walked over to Sofia and handed her some money.
"This all?" she asked with a frown.
"Hey, it was a slow night. And I ain't going back to the city, not after last time," Stacy said.
Her eyes landed on Michael.
"Who's this?" she asked.
"This is Mike. He is going to be staying with us," Julian staid.
"I thought we weren't taking in any more strays?" Stacy asked.
Michael had never met her in his timeline but he had heard a lot about Stacy, or as she was known, Stacy-X. She was a mutant with the power to control pheromones allowing her to make her target feel extreme nausea or extreme orgasmic bliss.
The latter had been used during her time as a very successful mutant prostitute. The X-Men had saved her from a mutant brothel that had been attacked by the Church of Humanity. She had stayed with them for a while sharing a flirtation with Warren and Kurt but she had left, not feeling like she fit in with the X-Men.
"That's what I was just telling Julian," Sofia said.
"I just need to stay for the night. After that, I am gone," Michael said.
"Where will you go?" Julian asked.
"Australia."
They all gave him incredulous looks.
"Why there?" Sofia asked.
"Surfing," Michael said with a smile.
They all broke out into fits of laughter.
"Well come on, I will show you where you will be sleeping tonight," Sofia said.
"I will do that, follow me hun," Stacy said.
Michael followed her up the stairs, leaving Julian and Sofia behind.
"Julian, we really can't take any more people in," Sofia said.
"Sofia, we need to take the kid in," Julian said.
"But why?" she asked.
"I don't know...it's this feeling I have."
"A feeling?"
"Just let him spend the night. Now how about dinner?"

The room Stacy led him to was blaring rock music.
She banged on the door. "Open up the door and turn down that damn music!" she yelled.
The door opened and Roberto AKA Sunspot stood in the doorway. He looked Stacy up and down admiring her figure.
"Finally couldn't resist me, huh Stacy, you ready for some hot love'n?" he asked with a leer.
Stacy just rolled her eyes. "Actually, I am here to introduce you to your new roommate."
"What?!"
Roberto looked at him, then Stacy. "Are you kidding? There is no way we can fit any more guys in here. James, John, Peter, Santo, and myself already live here; we can't fit anyone else! Especially with Santo's big ass!"
"You try being made from rock, you dick!" Michael could recognize Santo's gravelly voice anywhere.
Stacy put her hand on Roberto's cheek. A look of pure bliss washed over his face.
"You'll take good care of him, won't you, baby?" she asked.
"Yeah, sure," Roberto said.
"Good." She turned to look at Michael. "Don't let the guys intimidate you. They may be assholes but they are good guys."
She turned and left, turning her head to call back. "And welcome to our humble abode."
After Stacy left Roberto snapped out of it, he gave Michael a small glare and pulled him inside.
"Bloody serpent using her magic touch to mess with my head."
He slammed the door shut. The room was small. There was only one bed and a small nightstand. Some blankets were laid on the ground. James sat on the floor with a man whom Michael assumed was his brother John, the original Thunderbird who died many years ago in Michael's reality. They were sharpening several knives.
Peter sat by the open window wearing nothing save for a pair of shorts, and he was drawing something he was looking at outside.
Santo sat in the corner watching the small TV they had. He was so huge he was taking up most of the room.
"Guys, meet our new roommate...what's your name again?" Roberto asked.
"Mike," Michael replied.
"Well Mike, the two sharpening those knives are James and his brother John. The giant lump of rock is Santo, and the guy by the window is Peter."
Peter and Santo waved at him but James and John barley acknowledged Michael at all.
"So where you from, new guy?" Santo asked.
"Cambridge."
"The hell is that?"
Michael cursed himself. He doubted the names of counties and countries and states were the same in this world. He had to remember he was not in his world anymore.
"It's a little Hamlet out east," Michael said quickly.
"Never heard of it," John said.
"No one has. So, is everyone here a mutant?" Michael asked.
"Not all of us. You don't mind hanging with muties, do you?" Roberto asked plopping down on his bed.
"No. I used to live in a school full of them."
That got everyone's attention. "You went to a school?" Peter asked.
Michael couldn't help but notice his accent was almost gone.
"Yeah, it was an all-mutant school."
"Dude, why the hell did you leave?!" Santo asked.
"For real! I would give my left nut to be able to go to an all-mutant school!" Roberto said.
Michael was seriously confused now.
Thankfully, Sofia saved Michael when she appeared in the doorway. "Hey guys, time to eat."
She walked away to tell everyone else in the other rooms and Michael quickly backed out of the room.
"Well, good to meet you guys, better go get something to eat!"
Michael quickly left the room.
"That kid is hiding something," John commented.
"We need to talk to Julian about that kid. Something doesn't add up," Roberto agreed.

Dinner, as it turned out, was vegetable soup with bread and various drinks.
Michael sat by himself at a table while everyone else ate at another table.
A few were giving him inquisitive looks but left him alone.
Julian sat next to him. "How is it going?"
"Good. Thank you again, I will be gone tomorrow."
"Don't be hasty. Listen, it's true we're a bit packed. But if you tell me what your power is I might be able to convince Sofia to let you stay."
"How do you know I am a mutant?" Michael asked.
"Roberto and the Proudstars told me about your conversation. That you went to an all-mutant school. I think I know your story now. Your family was rich and was able to send you to some fancy-ass school. But then the Neyaphem learned they were...Christians? Is it Christians? Or Catholics? I mean there's so many of those God and angel freaks. So your folks got killed and you got to see what the real world is like and now you're are on your own, right?"
Michael was silent. He decided to play it smart and let Julian make up the story. He might learn something and it would be useful for him to finally come up with a story that was believable.
"Let me tell you, you're in good company. Peter, he is actually from Russia. His little sister manifested teleportation powers but when it turned out she could travel through time as well, their parents were killed and he and his older brother took her and tried to hide. Peter managed to survive but he lost his brother and sister. She used the last of her strength to send him here. Roberto, his dad was a rich guy and sent Roberto to one of those private schools. But then the Neyaphem bought his company out from under him and he fell under massive debt so he tried borrowing money from some Neyaphem lone-sharks. When it came time for him to pay back the money he fell short. They killed him and enslaved Roberto and were going to make him into a slave but he escaped. As for my family and me, we were the servants for some rich Neyaphem family. Then our master raped my mom and killed my father when he attacked him. That's how I found out I was a mutant. My power activated and I killed the bastard. I was never charged because no one knew I was a mutant and there were no other witnesses so I came out here to make a life for myself."
"I am sorry for your loss," Michael said.
"Lots of us have lost something. In a world where you are second or third class citizens, you learn to either join or make a group to survive. I know they like to feed you a load of shit in those private schools about what a utopia the Neyaphem have made. But let me tell you something. In this world, it's all about what you are, the Neyaphem are the first class, mutants second, and humans third. Places like this exist all over the world. The Neyaphem live a grand lifestyle while the rest of us live like this. Mutants get by better because our powers give us an advantage. That's the real world we live in."
A world Azazel made when he killed Adonai before he could be born.
"So don't be nervous or afraid. We're a family. We work together. Tell me, what is your power? If it is something useful then maybe I can convince Sofia to let you stay."
Michael thought for a moment, weighing the pros and cons. He needed to get to Australia. But he had to figure out how to get there first, he needed to learn more about this world and how it worked. It would be useful to have a place to stay while he got his bearings.
But what power could he tell Julian he had?
The angel fire? No, that was too flashy.
His soul perception? That might be useful in telling others emotions. If Julian and Sofia needed to know if someone was telling the truth they could use Michael.
Then it hit him.
"I am a healer," he said.
Julian's eyes rounded. "Really? Those are rare. How strong are you?"
"I can heal any wound or injury and I am good at healing sick people, though I have never tested the kinds of sickness I can cure. Can that get me a place here?"
Julian grinned. "Buddy, when Sofia finds out you are a healer, she will beg you to stay."

And she did.
Having a healer around was very useful.
Some of the mutants were cage fighters, participating in matches that could leave them severely wounded, but with Michael's help they were good as new and would be re-energized.
Michael spent ten days with Julian and the others. He never showed any of them his wings. He never told them about the angel fire. He could not risk being discovered.
Julian and Sofia used him as a source of income; they charged the sick people of the slums money or food for his services. Michael would have preferred to do it for free but the money helped the home.
During his time there Michael learned more about this new age. He found books and old newspapers to read and learned of the new history.
America was no longer America; it was now called Pandemonium. Ruled by King Azazel.
Australia, or as it was now called, the Pit, was controlled by Azazel's son Kiwi Black. It was called the Pit because that was where all the criminals and prisoners of the Neyaphem went.
The indigenous people had been enslaved a long time ago and were used as a workforce.
Michael wondered if Gateway was located in the prison. A teleporter of his caliber would be very difficult to keep a hold of.
But he learned the Pit had mutant power suppressors for their mutant prisoners. With those, they could keep Gateway imprisoned.
The only way to go to the Pit was to be sent there for some serious crimes.
Michael did have one ray of hope.
It turns out not all things were well for the Neyaphem. There was a resistance. A group of freedom fighters, both human and mutant, were being led against the Neyaphem. They were seeking to overthrow the demonic mutants and free humanity from them.
Michael knew if he could find them then he would gain a powerful ally. But how he was supposed to find them was another story altogether.
But it would seem fate was on his side, for as it turned out, the resistance was looking for him as well.

Michael and Julian were walking down the street.
Julian was taking him home after they paid a client a visit.
They drove in Julian's car. Michael had been correct in assuming he used his power to make the thing work.
Julian was one of the highest earners in the house. Like some, he fought in cage fights, otherwise he sold his talents helping people move heavy objects.
As they drove back to the house Michael asked him about the resistance.
"How would I know anything about them?" Julian asked.
"I figured people would talk to you. You seem to have lots of connections."
It was true, Julian was the leader of the house. He ran all the slums, more or less. People were always coming to him, asking for favors or for him to do some kind of job. He was well-respected.
"Everyone hears something about the resistance. But we have nothing to do with them. All we are trying to do is survive. We don't need to be pissing off the Neyaphem."
They turned the corner of the road and found several Neyaphem security vans outside their home. Neyaphem policemen in dark uniforms were holding guns and making people sit on the ground with their hands over the backs of their heads.
"I think you already have!" Michael said.
"Shit!" Julian cursed.
They pulled up outside the house and both got out.
"The hell is going on here?!" he demanded.
"Julian! They have a warrant to search the house and interrogate us!" Sofia said.
"For what?" Julian asked.
Just then a man walked through the door of the house. He wore a uniform similar to the guards' but his was more highly decorated. His skin was pitch black with a blue sheen, and his eyes were a solid robin-blue color, and he had a long mane of light blue hair.
"Ah, Mr. Keller. We have been waiting for you."
"Abyss! What the hell is this?" Julian demanded.
"We are looking for someone. We believe he or she might be here," Abyss explained.
Julian stomped over to Abyss.
"Look here Abyss, I don-t-"
Several cable-like wires shot out from Abyss's body and wrapped around Julian causing him to fall to his knees. Michael made a motion to help him but two guards stood in his way, giving him a very menacing look.
"I am the lord of the city, Keller, and that includes the slums. I only let you think you run this area so I may be spared having to come here myself! Remember your place!"
He released Julian, having humbled him. He began to walk past the other residents, looking at each and every one of them carefully. He gave Stacy a leer as he walked by.
Once he walked up and down the line looking at everyone he turned to Julian.
"I see you have added many new faces, Keller."
He then addressed the crowd.
"Listen up! We are searching for…someone. We don't know who he or she is. But we know they arrived here about ten days ago. Did anyone here arrive around that time?"
No one said anything.
"Speak up!" Abyss snarled. The cables began to uncoil themselves from his body. "Or I will make you speak!"
"It was me!" Michael said quickly.
Abyss turned to look at him. "What is your name, boy?"
"Mike. Mike Bronson," he said.
"And where are you from?" he asked.
"A small town back east called Cambridge."
"Are you a human or mutant?"
"Mutant. I am a healer."
Julian gave him a look that told him to shut up, but Michael wasn't going to let the others get hurt for him. This was terrifyingly familiar to him. It reminded him of when his family was killed, on their knees with their hands behind their heads.
Certain kinds of mutants were desired by the Neyaphem. Telepaths were always a hot commodity. Healers as well. There was a law that stated that the Neyaphem had the right to take any mutant of any age from their family to be groomed to serve the empire if they possessed certain abilities the empire coveted.
No one in the slums would ever tell about Michael; sickness and disease were common in the slums, having Michael around had been a great boon to its residents.
"Really? A healer?" Abyss asked with a smile that made Michael's stomach do a flip. "Show me."
Before Michael could ask how, his cables shot out and wrapped around Julian's arms and lifted him up in the air. Sofia screamed his name and everyone was forced to watch as Abyss used his cables to whip Julian's back.
Within seconds his back was a torn mess. When Abyss let him go he fell to the ground. The guards let Michael past and he quickly inspected the damage.
He could see lots of muscles and torn flesh. Acting quickly, he placed his hands on Julian's back and his hands glowed with a faint yellow light as he healed him.
Once he was done his back was good as new.
He helped Julian sit up. He was still shaky from the memory of being beaten.
Abyss walked up to them. "Well, I'll be damned. You've been holding out on me, Keller. You know the law. In the name of the Neyaphem and my father King Azazel, I am confiscating this mutant."
Michael looked at Abyss. It was not a friendly look. Abyss frowned and one of the cables shot forward and struck Michael's cheek, drawing blood.
He smirked, but then frowned again. There was a hissing sound, like acid melting through something. The cable that had struck Michael and drew blood was smoking. Michael's blood was burning Abyss.
"What is this?!" Abyss demanded.
"That's new," Michael said healing his cheek.
"How dare you harm me! I am the son of Azazel! Ruler of this city!" Abyss roared.
He snapped his fingers and the guards kicked Michael to his knees. The handcuffed him and then picked him back up. One of them punched Michael in the face, splitting his lip.
Michael spat the blood in the guard's face and the guard howled in pain as the blood began to burn his face just as it did Abyss.
"Take him away!" Abyss ordered.
The guards escorted Michael to one of the vans. Michael looked back to the others and gave them a small smile.
This was going to be the last time he saw them. At least in this world.

As Abyss had the guards head for the city he called his father.
Azazel's face appeared on the computer in the van.
"Abyss, you have found something I hope," Azazel said.
"We found a mutant healer who appeared in the slums around the time you specified, Father. I am taking him in for questioning."
Azazel noticed Abyss was nursing one of his cables and he frowned. "What happened?"
"The healer. I struck him for being impudent and his blood burned me."
"I thought you said he was a healer," Azazel said.
"He is, I saw him heal one of the trash who lives here. His blood also burned one of my guards."
Azazel was quiet for a moment. "Find out what he knows. I want a report as soon as you extract what you need."
Azazel ended the call.
Abyss would obey his father. He would have one of their telepaths find out what the boy knew. Then Abyss was going to make sure he paid for his impudence.
Michael sat in the back of the van.
He didn't know what he should do now. Should he just go ahead and escape?
Or should he wait until they were closer in the city?
Either way, he was going to have to escape, and soon.
"You're in for a world of hurt punk, no one crosses Abyss," the guard Michael burned said.
"Hmm, let's see. My blood burns him, so really can't see how he can hurt me without touching me."
"Idiot kid! He is called Abyss because his body can be used as a portal to another world! A world no one ever returns from. We'll see how brave you are when he tosses your ass in there."
Michael was about to make a retort when suddenly there was an explosion and the van was hit by some force and tipped on its side.
Michael quickly kicked the guard in the face, knocking him out. Michael managed to stand up and was about to melt the cuffs off his wrist when the other guard grabbed his gun and shot at Michael. The bullet hit him in the shoulder, causing him to hit the wall of the van.
Before the guard could fire again Michael shot a beam of angel fire from his eyes that hit the guard and knocked him out.
"I really hate guns," Michael said with a groan.
The door opened and he braced himself, getting ready to fire another blast. But the person who opened the door was not Abyss or any of his guards.
Of all the people in the world it could have been, it was someone he was both delighted and shocked to see.
"Anna?" he whispered.
Anna was wearing a combat shirt and jeans and carried a rather large gun. She had a scar on her right cheek, like she had gotten a nasty cut.
"How the hell do you know me?" she asked.
She glanced to her right and aimed her gun and fired it. Michael could clearly hear the sounds of fighting going on.
"No time, let's go!"
She stepped into the van and pulled out a strange device. She placed it over Michael's handcuffs and they unlocked themselves.
"Let's go!"
She pulled him back outside. Several people, some carrying guns, others firing beams of energy, were fighting against Abyss and his forces.
He saw Julian, Stacy, Peter, and the Proudstar brothers in the group. Peter was armored up and running at the guards, their bullets didn't faze him at all and when he ran into them he sent them flying.
The Proudstar brothers were working together in an impressive and terrifying display of coordination and perfect timing. They worked perfectly, when John ducked James would jump over him to kick one guard, then James would grab his brother's hand and swing him around to knock away several other guards. James then rolled on the ground, grabbing two guns, tossing one to his brother, and then the two brothers would stand back-to-back as they shot the guards.
Stacy had an impressive skill. She had obviously had some training in self-defense. One guard grabbed her from behind while another one was about to punch her in the face. Before he could, Stacy used her power to make the guard holding her become severely sick and his grip on her loosened and she dodged in time so the other guard's fist hit his comrade in the face.
Abyss was truly monstrous now; it was like his whole body had uncoiled so he was a mass of cables. His chest was now a vast gaping hole that was sucking things in.
"I am going to send you all to the dark dimension!" he yelled.
The force of the vortex from his chest was pulling people in, some of his guards were sucked in screaming in terror but Abyss did not care. Feeling an urge to pay him back for what he did to Julian, Michael raised his hand and a beam of angel fire shot forward and hit Abyss.
This got his attention; he turned his gaze to Michael and with a viscous snarl, he began to advance on him.
"I think you pissed him off," Anna said.
"I know," Michael said with a smile.
With a great cry he let his wings loose, tearing apart his shirt and vest. He had kept them hidden for so long, had to fight the urge to use his wings. But now he could show them in all their glory.
Abyss stared, and he wasn't the only one. Everyone was looking at Michael with shock.
"Holy shit!" he heard Anna say.
"What kind of mutant are you?" Abyss asked.
"The pissed off kind," Michael said.
Raising both hands he blasted Abyss with arcs of angel fire.
It felt good to let out his aggression, to take out the negative feelings he had since he got here. Seeing all the people suffering and striving to survive hit a nerve with Michael.
All he wanted to do was help the people; healing them had helped keep the need at bay. But what was the point of healing them when they would just get sick again? The conditions of the slums were deplorable.
People starving and struggling to get by, it made Michael want to hurry up and find Gateway so he could stop Azazel.
But he had to keep a low profile, he had to be patient. Normally that was a virtue of his.
Phanes had warned him, and now Michael really understood what he meant.
So it felt damn good to vent his frustrations out on Abyss.
Abyss howled in pain, the attacks of the others had barely affected him. But the angel fire was doing an extreme amount of damage to him.
"What is this?!" he yelled.
"Retribution!"
Michael stopped zapping him and Abyss fell to his knees, his body recoiling and closing the vortex.
He glared at Michael, his whole body was smoking.
"I will kill you!" he snarled.
Michael formed a ball of angel fire.
"Go to hell."
He threw it at Abyss.
Abyss began to fold into himself slowly condensing, but before he disappeared, the sphere hit him and Michael heard a very satisfying shriek of pain before he vanished.
Michael put his hands on his hips and smiled.
He looked over at Anna and saw she was giving him an odd look.
"What?" he asked.
"I am so hot for you right now," she said.

In Azazel's throne room a black sphere appeared.
There was a flash of light and a screaming Abyss came flying out of it, hitting the ground and sliding into Azazel's throne where the scarlet-skinned mutant sat.
He looked down at his son, his finger tapping his cheek, looking less than pleased.
"I take it things didn't go well?" he asked.
"No...we were attacked by...rebels," Abyss said with a groan of pain.
"And they did this to you? I am disappointed; I thought you were stronger than this."
"No, it was the healer!"
"A healer did this to you? A being whose sole purpose is to mend wounds? Now I am embarrassed."
"No! He had another power. He could shoot this...energy, this white energy!"
"White?"
"Yes and he had wings! He looked like one of those angel things the humans used to worship!"
Azazel suddenly sat up. He grabbed his son by the scruff of his shirt and lifted him up.
"Tell me everything!"
Fusedtwilight: Will Michael be able to stop Azazel? Next chapter Michael meets some old friends, old foes and sadly not all of them are the people he remembers. Please review.
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Angel In The Attic