Michael, the Archangel of Heaven, and Priest stood again in the dungeon. But now Priest could see clearly. A gentle torchlight hung in the air between the two of them.

Priest looked down at his arms and while were bruised the cuts had healed and there was little I the way of pain. He stretched and all of his limbs moved without aching. “How could this be?” He said aloud.

Michael smiled. “Your time in the divine accelerated your healing. You weren’t there long enough to make a full recovery but…”

“I feel incredible!” Priest said. “Like I could take on the world.” The energy was intense. Priest felt no fatigue, no fear, and was filled with hope.

“That feeling will fade but will serve us well for the time being.” Michael said.

He drew a large broadsword, seemingly from nowhere, and as he did so his suit change. Gone was the white cloth, it was replaced with a full kit of silver plate armor and chainmail. Wings sprouted from Michaels back, flexed, and folded in.

There was a perceptible aura around Michael now. It was a faint shimmer. Priest was reminded of Solar Flares light based force field only this was different somehow. Michael projected a divine power. It was more fluid and natural than a projected field.

Priest got himself ready with a series of kicks and punches. It felt good to be moving again. He looked around for something, anything he could use as a weapon bit the room was empty. Perhaps he could find something along the way.

Noticing Priest looking around Micheal and held out his hand. A line of bright light formed into a silver Wakizashi. It was a Japanese short sword, typically paired with a katana.

“You’ve earned this.” Michael said and handed the blade to Priest.

Inspecting the sword Priest noted runes engraved into the steel. They were similar to his katana, The Hand of God.

“It is called Shadow Breaker. It will illuminate the darkest, most desperate of times.” Michael continued.

Priest took the blade through a series of warm up and balancing exercises. The blade was perfectly balanced and instantly reminded him of his divine sword the Hand if God.

“This will work.” Priest said smiling.

“I thought you would approve.” Michael said smiling.

Earlier, somewhere over the American Midwest…

Solar Flare cruised along in the open blue sky, soaking up the Sun’s rays. His power was solar based and he always felt energized in the Sun. He poured more willpower and accelerated. His top speed could reach near supersonic flight if he really focused.

Over the din of air rushing past him a low rumble could be heard. Looking over his shoulder he saw two F-22 Raptors approaching. Solar Flare slowed and the fighters came up on either side of him.

One of the pilots pointed to Solar Flare and then himself followed by a downward gesture. They wanted him to follow them in. Solar Flare replied with a thumbs up and one jet accelerated as the other fell in behind Solar Flare.

The second jest stayed on Solar Flare’s 6 o’clock position.

“Well.” Solar Flare said outloud to the roaring wind. “I am meeting the President afterall.”

The jets led him along and soon he could see a large runway in the distance. The lead jet descended and Solar Flare followed.

The jet passed over the runway and an awaiting group of soldiers. The trailing jet stayed with him until he landed in front of the soldiers at which time it peeled off and accelerated away.

The group in front of him were heavily armed and armored. Behind the group were two tactical vehicles. Not the lightweight Humvees but the new heavy-duty trucks. Each of those had someone manning a 50-caliber machinegun. No one had guns aimed at Solar Flare but they were ready in case anything went down they didn’t agree with.

Solar Flare put his hands up and spoke. “You invited me, am I under arrest or something?” He kept his tone light.

“No sir!” The lead soldier shouted. “Standard security protocols sir. I’m Colonel Steiner. I will take you to meet with the President. This way sir.”

Solar Flare walked through the group. The soldier watched him pass in silence. Once he was a little ways away he could hear them talking softly.

“Dude, that guy is ripped. Seriously you gotta be fit to walk around in spandex.” One said.

“I heard he fought a god…and won.” Another said.

“He doesn’t look that tough.” A third said. At which point Solar Flare stopped and turned to look back over his shoulder. Everyone was looking at one man so it wasn’t hard to see who made the remark. The soldier looked down at the ground.

Solar Flare slowly turned back around and followed Colonel Steiner.

“Real smart Roberts, piss off the dude who can shoot laser beams out of his hands.” Someone said. Under his mask Solar Flare grinned.

The Colonel led Solar Flare through a hanger filled with aircraft and technicians. Since the expansion of the darkness dome the military had taken up positions around it but were careful not to get too close. The dome was almost a thousand miles from here but there was a palatable tension in the air. These men were worried. They were up against an enemy they had no idea how to fight. All the guns, tanks, and jets in the world, quite literally, wouldn’t be able to do a thing to this threat.

Solar Flare promised to change that.

Crossing through the hanger the went into an adjoining building. It was a reinforced one floor building. The pair entered and several men and women in suits were there. They carried pistols and assault rifles and were easily identifiable as Secret Service Agents.

“Authorization code.” A woman wearing a bullet proof vest and holding an assault rifle said.

“Alpha, omega, 3, 9, 7, 5.” Solar Flare replied. They had established a code to confirm Solar Flare’s identity since they had no way of really knowing who was under the mask.

“Approved. Colonel, we’ll take it from here.” The woman spoke but never took her distrusting eyes off of Solar Flare.

“Yes, mam. See you around Solar Flare.” Colonel Steiner took his leave and headed back out the door.

“Notify Eagle that Solar Flare has arrived.” The woman said, her eyes still fixed on Solar Flare.

Another Secret Service Agent left the room through a door. Silence fell in the room as everyone looked at the superhero in the room.

“Nice place ya’ got here.” Solar Flare said but silence continued. He cleared his throat. “Weather is nice here. A little on the warm side.” Solar Flare raised his arms and looked at his armpits. “I always worry about pit stains in this costume.”

No one laughed.

“Seriously people, spandex tights, armpit stains. That’s funny. You’re not giving me a lot to work with here.” Solar Flare said in a pleading voice.

“There’s nothing funny about this situation.” The woman said.

“I know.” Solar Flare said somberly. “We’re on the same side. A lot of people are trapped under that darkness. My best friend is in there and I have no idea if he’s alive or dead.”

“Or turned.” The woman said.

“Yeah.” Solar Flare said. “I’m only here to help. I mean that, I want to help.”

“My husband is in there, he was part of the security detail. You can see why I don’t find any humor in this.” She said.

“Hopefully we can find a way to rescue your husband, my friend, and every person trapped in there.” Solar Flare replied.

“We’ll see, the brass is hyping you up big time. I’m Special Agent Amanda Bane. I head up the President’s security detail. I don’t like my boss talking to people who don’t show their face.” Amanda said.

“I understand Special Agent Bane. I really do. But I have friends and family of my own to protect and I’ve made enemies that are willing to go to great lengths to harm or kill me.” Solar Flare said.

“Don’t we all.” Amanda snapped back.

The silence fell again. Several agents went back to their work while a small number eased back and watched Solar Flare.

A door opened and a man in a suit came out.

“The President will see you now sir.” The man said and gestured for Solar Flare to follow. Amanda fell in behind Solar Flare and gave orders to the rest of her team to keep watch over things.

The three of them walked down a short hall that ended in an elevator. Two heavily armed soldiers guarded the elevator doors.

The trio entered the elevator and the doors closed. They descended for a long while until he elevator came to a stop.

When the doors opened there was cacophony of radio communications and speaking. Several large monitors hung from the wall. They displayed all manner of information. Real time video of the darkness dome along with troop, vehicle, and aircraft movements could be seen.

Walking through the busy command center there was door guarded by two Secret Service agents. When the trio approached the agents opened the door.

Inside was an ornate office. The symbol of the office of the President of the United States of America was on the floor. There, behind a large wooded desk flanked by two American flags sat the President of the United States Morgan Flanker.

Morgan Flanker was a hero in every sense of the word. He was a tall, muscular African-American and had been a special forces operative before going into politics. His unit had been assigned to assist African Union troops in the retrieval of terrorist kidnapping victims. During one such operation Morgan used his body to defend two children who were about to be shot by a terrorist. The whole incident was caught on a body cam of another soldier in his unit. Morgan was shot several times and managed to return fire while covering the children. Once the terrorist was dead he carried both kids to a waiting helicopter and once they were safely aboard he collapsed from his injuries.

His fellow soldiers carried Morgan to another helicopter and he was airlifted out. He had several surgeries and survived but walked with a pronounced limp and had to use a cane. Coming home he couldn’t continue in special ops and ran for office. His national popularity skyrocketed and he was elected to the Presidency.

President Flanker proved to be as courageous and wise in office as he had been on the battlefield. He didn’t back down from a fight but he knew when to use diplomacy and when to use force. He was a young man, having turned 35 just before being sworn in. His youth didn’t show now though. He looked much older. Solar Flare noted that the man standing before him had the safety and well being of every single person in the United States resting on his shoulders.

“Solar Flare, it is good to meet you.” President Flanker said. He got up slowly and walked around the desk leaning heavily on a dark wood cane that had an eagle head handle.

“That’s very kind of you sir. It is my privilege and honor to meet with you.” Solar Flare said extending his hand. Amanda flinched at the movement but Flanker waved her down.

“Easy Bane, he’s a friend. If Solar Flare meant any harm he’d have done something by now.” The President replied.

The two shook hands. The President walked over to a small bar along one wall.

“Do you have a hole in your mask to drink from?” The President asked.

“No sir, but I’m fine, thank you.” Solar Flare replied lightly.

The President smiled and poured himself a glass of water. “We’re in quite a bad spot Solar Flare.”

“I know sir, my estimate is that with a couple of months the US will be covered and within two years the entire globe.” Solar Flare said somberly.

“Any idea on how to stop it?” The President asked.

“At present no, but I was able to get a distress call out. I’m hoping I can get help from someone familiar with this alien species.” Solar Flare said.

“Help from who?” The President queried.

“Anyone who heard me.” Solar Flare said. “I target a message at the portal. It’s a dimensional portal and I theorize it forms a weak point in the fabric of space time.”

“So your plan is to do nothing.” Amanda Bane snapped. “You don’t even know if anyone heard your call!”

“That is part of the plan Special Agent Bane.” Solar Flare said. “I have promising results from my observations of the darkness dome. Sunlight stops it; I need to figure out how to use that to our advantage. Perhaps I can focus sunlight on it, amplify it to burn it away.”

“Solar Flare.” The President said. “I don’t intend to criticize but I really was hoping you might have more to offer.”

“I do sir.” Solar Flare said. “That’s why I’m here. There is something else that affected the darkness.”

“What’s that?” The President asked.

“I can only describe it as divine energy.” Solar Flare said. He went on to describe how the darkness recoiled away from Priest and how his sword appeared to destroy some of the infecting species.

“So you think we can call the Pope in to perform an exorcism?” The President asked.

“Possibly, but I need to look into this closer. My friend had…unique abilities.” Solar Flare said.

“What ever you need, its yours.” The President said.

Back under the darkness dome…

Michael’s broadsword sliced through two shades that were trying to ambush him from behind.

The normal form for them looked like an inky black mass in pseudo-humanoid forms that had no legs floating in the air. Below the torso wisps of shadowy mass writhed. They had black skeletal heads with grey lights for eyes. Spindly arms ended with sharp onyx claws.

When the holy sword struck the Shades their physical form burned away in a flash of white fire and smoke. The blade severed each one in two. The creatures screeched in pain and disappeared as their forms melted away into nothingness.

Priest couldn’t admire the swordsmanship because he had his own problems to deal with. Third shades were charging at him.

Priest slashed out in a wide arc, which stopped the Shades in their tracks. The fiends sensed the divine enchantments on the sword and looked to avoid it at any cost.

Priest drew the blade in and stabbed at the center Shade. It tried to back up out of Priest’s reached but it was moving too slow. The blade named Shadowbreaker cut deep into the Shade. The form melted around the blade and fell to the ground in a bubbling mass.

Spinning in place Priest sliced at the next Shade. It got a clawed hand up to block. It’s steely black claws met the divine steel and sparks flew. The Shade reached out with both claws. Priest swung in an upward arch that cut through the Shades arms. The creatures screamed in pain as it’s forearms fell to the ground and began to dissolve. The injured Shade turned to flee but Shadowbreaker cleaved it in two from the head to the end of its floating form.

“Priest!” Michael shouted. “Behind you!”

Without looking Priest flipped the sword in his hand so the blade was facing back and struck backwards. He felt the weight of the Shade hit him. Its arms were spread wide but it had impaled itself on the sword. Priest turned to face the creature. It’s grey glowing eyes faded out and it dropped to the ground in a mass of inky black goo.

“Not bad.” Priest said looking at the sword in his hand.

“The Zin are gathering.” Michael said. Screeching could be heard in the distance. “We need to move quickly. The Hand of God is near.”

“I sense it too.” Priest said.

“The blades are a pair.” Michael said. “You’re sensing the swords trying to be reunited.”

“What happens when you have both swords?” Priest asked.

“Great power my friend.” Michael replied.

“Why did you separate them? Why only give one of the swords to me if they are meant to be wielded together?” Priest asked.

“You had to prove you were worthy.” Michael said matter-of-factly. “This is a lot of power for a mortal to possess. You are only beginning to see extent of your abilities.”

For many years now Priest had grown accustomed to his special powers. Unlike Solar Flare, Priest’s powers were subtle. He could heal others and tell the past of an object he held. He had been entrusted with the katana called the Hand of God. It was a special sword but it never demonstrated any overt power. It could deflect a bullet, never tarnished, and never dulled. There was more to it than that apparently.

The pair moved down the hall but no shades approached. Their screeching cries could be heard all around but none dared approach.

Priest felt the sword’s presence. He could always tell when the sword was nearby but this was different. The sword was guiding him to it, like a compass pointing North, Priest could sense when he was getting closer to it.

Michael picked up the pace as they headed down a series of stairs going deeper into the structure. The only light was from the flame that followed them.

Descending several levels, they entered a sub-basement. It became eerily silent when they exited the stairway. It was unnaturally cold too. A mist hung along the ground obscuring the floor.

The basement level was filled with various machines and Priest thought that normally it would be quite loud as the pumps and motors circulated water and air through the structure. But today it was silent as a grave. Shadows clung to every alcove and in each space of machinery.

Michael and Priest moved down the center of the room cautiously and saw their objective.

The divine blade Hand of God hung in midair. A white sphere of light held is aloft on top of a inky black pedestal the writhed around the bottom of sphere. Tendrils reached out but burned away as they attempted to find a weak spot in the holy barrier.

Michael raised his fist and the pair stopped. “It must be a trap. The Zin are not doubt trying to discern any weakness in the sword’s divine protections.”

“Well.” Priest brought Shadowbreaker up in front of him. “We best not disappoint them.”

Meanwhile along the perimeter of the darkness dome…

A giant black tendril struck out at Solar Flare. With a thought he directed more solar energy in the direction of the strike to defend the wounded soldier on the ground nearby.

The tentacle sizzled as it slammed into Solar Flare’s force field and drove him back a few feet.

“Get him out of here now! I’ll hold it off as long as I can!” Solar Flare shouted.

A family had gotten lost and wound up driving dangerously close to the perimeter of the dome. A squad of soldiers was directing them away from the area when a tendril shot out and struck the armored personnel carrier with such force it tipped over. One of the soldiers was pinned partially under the vehicle. More tendrils were leeching towards them when Solar Flare heard their distress call.

Bullets were useless against the dark force but Solar Flare’s powers were very potent. The mass of inky black tentacles retreated from him at first but then gathered in strength. He couldn’t help but think that it was learning, adapting to his attacks, and trying to find a way to overcome his defenses.

Solar Flare had limits. He was superhuman but even his enhanced endurance and strength could only go so far. It took willpower to drive energy into his various solar powers. Defensively it was his willpower channeling a counter to an attack. Fatigue could kill him just as easily as anyone else. Strenuous activity would drain you, wear down your strength, eventually our focus would slip. He shuddered to think what would happen if he was possessed by this dark force.

What would happen if Solar Flare turned? Perhaps it wouldn’t be possible. Maybe his body’s solar stores would resist the dark energy. A lab accident following a botched robbery attempt at the observatory Solar Flare worked at had altered Solar Flare’s DNA. His cells somehow mutated and were able to absorb, retain, and release stored solar energy. He couldn’t explain how it had happened. By all odds he should have been incinerated or his body destroyed by cancers and tumors but somehow he’d survived.

Recovery from the lab accident had taken months. That alone was a miracle and he had to feign impairment longer to avoid suspicion. The doctors just chalked it up to luck and good health.

Following the accident Solar Flare discovered his powers. As he lay in a hospital room he first discovered he could emit light. It was difficult time emotionally; the director of the observatory had been killed in the botched robbery. Solar Flare wasn’t able to save him and no small amount of guilt existed about it. With the observatory on the verge of collapse Solar Flare stepped in under the guise of his alter ego.

It was tumultuous time. But as fate would have it he met an ally, the superhero named Priest. Their first meeting was anything but ideal but over time they came to trust one another and defeated the local gang calling itself the Dragons of Death. No easy feat given that the gang was actually being manipulated by a cult determined to bring chaos and destruction to the world.

As things in the city turned around for the better there was a renaissance of sorts. Businesses began to return and thrive. The observatory sponsored several high profile events and scientific research started up again. All under the watchful eyes of the two local superheroes. Priest and Solar Flare.

Snapping back to the present Solar Flare counted another strike from an inky black tentacle with a blast of energy of his own.

The bolt shot out from this outstretched arms and hands. It sizzled as it made contact with the extremity. The black tendril retreated from the would and was absorbed back into the dome.

Solar Flare changed tactics and summoned and then projected a shimmering cone of plasma energy out in front of himself. The cone radiated out his hand with pointed out in front of him. It was like the light from a flashlight. The heat shimmered and was wide enough to help cover the retreating soldiers.

As they moved farther from the perimeter of the dome several thin tendrils shot out a the APC resting on its side. With creaking noises, the APC was dragged into dome and disappeared from sight was it passed through.

“Thanks Solar Flare, we woulda been goners if you hadn’t arrived.” A soldier said as they watched the dome absorb the APC.

“Anytime.” Solar Flare said. “We have to tighten the perimeter. That family nearly drove right into the dome.”

“Will do sir!” The soldier nodded and turned to the rest of his squad. They needed to get their injured man to a hospital.

Solar Flare stood guard as the wounded man was carefully loaded into one of the other vehicles along with the rest of the squad. They drove off quickly leaving Solar Flare alone.

Pushing off the ground Solar Flare hovered in the air and moved slightly closer to the dome.

“What ever it is you’re trying to do it will fail.” Solar Flare shouted at the darkness. “I am going to stop you and banish you back to wherever it is you come from.”

The darkness didn’t answer. The black dome pulsed and swirled but offered no reply.

He turned and rocketed off into the sky. There was work to do.