Michael was pointing his fingers at a flat map that showed off the globe with seven continents and their major capitals and landmarks. He tapped his finger on North America, zooming in closer to the states, and tapped on South Dakota and slide fingers closer that it showed the Badlands.

Michael said assertively, gazing his eyes around the map room, filled with heroes and angels against the walls, and the Seers behind him, peering down at what he was looking at. His sidekicks were around the table, hearing attentively of what Michael was speaking, “I had angels already secure around the Badlands and there was no sighting of Pitch. We suspect as much he left the place, but we have to see if he left any hints or clues of where he is heading. This is no doubt but a game of hiding and seek. He has the sword, cocky, but eventually, patience is key.” Michael swapped his fingers across the globe, “Pitch could be anywhere in this world. None of us are certain what Pitch is in mind, but we had an inkling something to kill me with the sword,” Michael raised his hand before his angels and heroes started to chatter about the Archangel’s safety, “I know you are worried about my safety, but we have done this centuries ago with vampires, demons, my brother, so...I am not worried and neither should you.” The Archangel nudged his head towards Katerina, “I have a bodyguard.”

Katerine saw eyes look appealing to her, The words slipped out of her mouth before she could think, “I will protect our leader with my life.” Kate felt that she took that too extreme, but the angels gave a satisfied look, but her brothers did a small frown, but proud eyes glittering behind those eyes.

“I already instructed Demetrius, Ricky, and Ashley of what they are tasked to do. Andrew is the backup in case something happens. John will be going across the headquarters, and Daniel will be reporting to me about the headquarters here and I’ll be reporting back on what’s been happening. I expect this will be a month-long out, but keep your heads and spirits high, because as heroes, we serve to protect this world from the wretched evil that disgraces this beautiful nature and flaws to the humans.”

Sara gazed at her father, not hearing those harsh words come out of his mouth like that before, saying such evil and flaws. She thought she was seeing a glimpse of what her father was like during the Holy War, or was he saying that to act like a leader?

Sara watched his broad shoulder and bulky, muscular arms as he answered questions, his poster straight and nodding with serenity as he responded to each question carefully, but effectively. Michael was no doubt the Archangel and a natural leader as it was second nature to him.

The assassin wrapped in the bundle of her security cloak and felt some pride in her blossoming to her father and her friend. That Kate was taking responsibility for protecting Sara’s father as if it was her own and Michael going headstrong into a chaotic world out there and the distorted, crazy personality of Pitch.

Sara frowned as she thought Pitch was a distorted, crazy warlock when she still remembered clearly how she freed him from his death sentence—and there was a little guilt inside of her that she released him into the world and he did this. But there was no shame in letting him out, letting me get a second chance as her father gave her countless times.

Was she still being childish in thinking it was right for Pitch to get that second chance he didn’t deserve now?

She didn’t know.

And now Sara should be afraid for her father’s life...but her father was Michael. She was certain he could protect himself as he has throughout all these years.

“How do you know the safety of this Heroes’ Headquarters will be alright? You will be gone and everyone will notice,” asked Mark.

Michael said with a calm sigh, “I am trusting my sidekicks to that. I have added extra security measures.” He made eye connection in the room as silence lingered in the atmosphere, “Remember, that we work together, not apart. I showed Ashley, Demetrius, and Ricky all about the critical. Emails will be sent to me and other important matters. I am rallying them to handle what I asked them to do. I am trusting all of you to do what you are assigned.” He slightly banged his fist against the table, catching everyone's attention, “We do not have time to ask questions. We waste minutes when we can be looking for Pitch. Are there any questions that are not judgmental of my assignment?”

Timothy raised his hand, “How are we traveling to the Badlands, portals...or?”

Michael answered, “I will love it if you could teleport me and the rest of the sidekicks to the Badlands. Quick and efficient; since we are running low on portable ports, trying to get more marbles in stock in a few days.”

Timothy said, “Any magical creature will feel our presence by my powers.”

Michael said, “No need to matter. Pitch already made his move and I don’t care if he can sense us. If he senses us, we can sense him. Magical creatures, there should respect our boundaries.” Michael wanted this conversation over and for everyone to stop being skeptical of his motives. The look of impatience provoking on his face made his angels and heroes look grimly at him. “Gabriel will be looking over the headquarters, helping Ashley, Demetrius, and Ricky. We already planned in case Pitch is trying to distract us to blow up this place, but taking every measure to make sure everyone is safe.”

The heroes and angels nodded with some encouragement.

Uriel said, “Everything will be fine. Take a deep breath, all of us need to. This is just a bump and we get over it.”

“Pitch may think he is some great warlock with such a brain, but after a century, no one will even remember him,” John smirked.

Kate sighed with a frown, “It’s a shame there were no warlocks in that house to track.”

Michael said with a dismissive wave, “Yes, it is, but you girls spent the day to yourselves.”

Sara muttered, “What does that have to do with anything?” She crossed her arms.

Michael snapped a glare at her, “Sara.”

Sara flinched back and lowered her head down. Her black hair swooped into a wavy mess over her face, “Sorry.”

The Archangel cleared his throat, “Anyway, any more questions?”

“You think you will be back in a month?” Gabriel said with a hopeful stare. “We will make sure everything is going smoothly, no need to worry when you are gone.”

Michael said, “Yes, hoping for just a month or less. And I am not worrying, I trust my heroes and angels to run things without me. I train them such.” He did a glance to see any more questions, and said, “Meeting dismiss.”

The angels and heroes started chattering about the meeting and what lay ahead, but excitement buzzed in the air. The heroes and angels at the Heroes’ Headquarters trained for this kind of a mess. Hardly any villains or monsters made a scene like this, and the heroes and angels were glad to put this horrific but interesting scenario to a close.

John came to Michael, “I’ll be off now. I’ll keep a tab on you.”

Michael looked around the nosy room and leaned into John’s ear, whispering in a low threat, “Don’t do anything...stupid, Johnathan. You are at my very last nerves.” The Archangel smiled at the other archangel’s timid face, “Talk to you later.”

Michael walked around the room, answering questions quickly and flawlessly, eyeing his sidekicks trying to answer some of the angels’ and heroes’ questions to the best of their ability. Sara went by her father’s side, “Nice meeting.” She cupped her arms to her side, “All of us are ready to go on your command!”

Michael turned to her, “Sara.” His eyes were snarky in his usual kind eyes, “Stop making remarks like that.” He pulled her close to him, “Just...don’t. Okay?”

Sara nodded, feeling an anxious feeling spread through her, “I know, dad. Just that comment had nothing to do with Pitch or anything.”

Michael sighed, placing his hands on her shoulders, staring at her lovely face, seeing how developed she much doing this upsetting times. Michael wished he could be with Sara more, “I was being proud of you. It was a happy remark, showing off my two favorite girls. I already have enough of my people judge me, I don’t need my daughter to, alright?”

Sara cast her eyes away, guiltily, but she saw the demanding look that he wanted her eyes to contact with his that Sara understand clearly. The young assassin gazed directly into her father’s stern eyes, “Yes, father.”