Upon a Pale Horse pt. 3

Freedom Haven, California was as serene a place as any. This is why Traxis Corp had chosen it for their western corporate headquarters. Today it would receive a visit from a servitor of God. A hand made being of pure justice. The man was born out of the necessity for a true freedom fighter. He was created to preserve America no matter what the cost. Yet the people that created him never realized he would not stand for their America but his own. On this soil a true American would find many others just like him.

The dry air and cool breeze was a long way off from the chilling drizzle of the east coast. Zaphiel deciding his identity was safe rented a plane and flew cross-country. He could not take another road trip with the backbone of America. If not for his strong beliefs he would have decided his mission was useless. Freedom Haven was basically a high-rise building in the middle of the desert. Employees were shuttled out to the place to keep its route secret. Zaphiel just waited and boarded the bus with everyone else. He so easily assumed his place amongst others. His golden eyes hidden behind dark sunglasses. His brand covered by a turtleneck t-shirt. He had planned it perfectly. He would have the entire building wiped out by noon. He could leave and move on to his next destination. He knew better than any that the heads of this supposed multimedia conglomerate would not be found here. As the shuttle emptied he made his way to a storage building off to the right. He opened his briefcase and the package he had delivered here the day before. He loaded both his pistols placing them in their holsters. He then proceeded to put together an assault rifle. A few flash bangs for confusion factor were taken too.

He headed off towards the buildings preparing for a simple cleanup. His first seconds in the empty front corridor quickly led to several deaths. All the men here were responsible for wiping out a small village of women and children in Central America. The first one never saw it coming, but the others weren't so lucky. They tried to fight but were subdued with such ease Zaphiel for a few seconds wondered if it was the same men. Each were forced to their knees and watched as a bullet was placed directly between their eyes. Zaphiel sprayed out a star around the bodies. He headed to an elevator. He took the top floor and within only a few minutes had completed his list of worst offenders. As he moved down he noticed most floors were empty and were mainly storage. He reached the second story. As he moved through the offices he seemed to be losing focus he thought. All were good and pure. They had committed no crimes against their nation. These were the people he was protecting, but how could this be. How could the pure work for the Beast? All could the din of sinners have the faithful in it. They must have fallen but had their histories cleared. No they just did not know the truth for which they worked. For this they should not be slaughtered. They should be spared. He walked onto the elevator and pressed the button heading for the lobby. As the doors opened his synapse quickly sprung into action as he raised an assault rifle at a middle-aged woman. He smiled this one was guilty. She was a criminal. He knew of her kidnapping children. She screamed and shoved the two small children behind her. The young girl though peaked out. Zaphiel stopped lowering his rifle looking at the child. The eyes were caring and warm. These were the eyes of the loved. He realized that this woman probably saved these children from some horrid place. Her crime was a crime of love. How could he pass judgment on someone who knew true feelings? The little girl spoke up, "Please mister don't kill mommy. She didn't mean to tear the tag off her mattress." Zaphiel closed his eyes spinning away. He quickly spun running past her. He turned back, "Forgive me for I have sinned. Forgive me for I knew not what I had done. You are the children of heaven." He ran out the door and stopped abruptly. Something had cut on inside him. He turned to see a well-dressed man walking towards the building. He raised his rifle and fired. The now lifeless body dropped instantly. Zaphiel walked over and fired into the head one more time.

"Agent Messiah"

"For he shall be as pure as the driven snow. He shall save us all by sacrificing himself. He shall be the messiah to man."

"Yet this one is tainted by the black acid of humanity. He will save no one not even himself from death's judgment."

Zaphiel walked to the car of the agent and started it up. He drove away into the sun. He had not forsaken his mission. He had become stronger in his faith. The good and pure were real. Now he knew who he was sent to save.