"Multiple tour groups have reported hearing choirs singing in the middle of Lake Michigan. We've cross-referenced the reports. The only thing in that area other than water is a small island. We need you to go check it out."
The training area of the GDA facility was the size of a football field. Dr Molay's voice interrupted Alex's practice. The dozen drones that had been firing rubber bullets at him powered down.
He picked one of the rubber bullets off the floor and inspected the dented tip. He tossed it aside casually and smiled at Dr Molay, "It's nice to speak in person. We should do this more often."
Dr Molay looked at him expressionlessly. They'd been working together for more than a month. He knew that there were human emotions hiding beneath the indifferent mask.
Alex held up his hands in mock surrender, "I get it, I get it. You need space. We'll stick to the earpiece system. But know that I'll always love you."
Dr Molay blinked. She struggled not to smile. Coordinators often became very close with the superheroes they managed. She'd never thought that she'd end up the same way.
"Transport's waiting for you." She stated.
Alex pulled his mask over his head. He was already wearing the rest of his costume. The GDA facility was a secure location, he didn't need to hide his identity.
The helicopter was painted all-black. Since he'd started working for the GDA, helicopter rides had become an almost daily occurence. At first they'd been exciting. After the thrill wore off, they were just another part of the job. Taylor often complained that he couldn't take her with him.
'Date night tomorrow.' He thought to himself. He'd made reservations at a new restaurant and booked tickets to see a play. The nearly two million dollars sitting in his bank account had led to a significant rise in the luxuriousness of the dates he planned.
The one million dollar salary Cecil had offered was only the base level. He recieved regular bonuses in the tens of thousands of dollars.
He'd offered his parents money multiple times, but they insisted he keep it for himself. The secure neighbourhood they now lived in didn't have rent payments or bills. The money they'd made from selling the old house was enough for them to live lavishly for a decade.
"You want a rope Omega?" The pilot's voice played from a speaker in the cabin.
Alex stepped to the edge of the cabin. The lake water below was an inviting and shimmering blue, "I'll swim!"
"Copy that. Radio for pickup!"
Alex jumped. He stretched out his arms in front of him. The hundred or so foot fall allowed him to build up considerable speed. He hit the water hard. His oustretched arms gave him a streamlined shape and he cut through it cleanly. The impact only produced a small splash.
The momentum from the fall carried him deep beneath the surface. He kicked his legs and swam towards his destination. The dark stone pillar connecting the island to the lake floor was unmistakeable.
The island wasn't large. It would only take a half hour for a person walking at normal speed to explore the entirety of it. The GDA had attempted to send drones to investigate. After losing several expensive pieces of machinery they were forced to change their approach and send a hero instead. The island emitted a strange frequency of electromagnetic waves that disabled all technology.
Alex stepped over a motionless drone. He crouched and poked it with his foot. The machine's exterior didn't appear damaged. The reasons for its malfunction were unknown. He immediately increased his level of caution.
He advanced slowly. The pebbled shore transitioned into tall and densely-packed trees. He observed nothing out of the ordinary. The island forest appeared exactly like it did on the mainland.
After walking for a few minutes, the tree coverage began to thin. He slowed his advance. He pushed his perception of time to the fastest it could go and readied himself to flee. He wasn't willing to lose his life to investigate the island's strangeness.
'There's no sound.'
The realisation was frightening. The comforting sound of the breeze had vanished without him noticing. The birds chirping in the trees had vanished as well. He should've noticed the changes. The island was influencing his senses.
The strangeness was constantly increasing. It was too much. The unknown was the most frightening thing of all. He turned to leave. He would report the island's mysterious charecteristics to the GDA. They could send the Guardians to investigate further. He wasn't willing to needlessly put his safety at risk.
The island was in the middle of Lake Superior. The GDA were only made aware of it's unusual existence because a few tourist boats had happened to pass by. The island hadn't exhibited any aggression towards people. The tourists actually described the choir-like singing as incredibly peaceful.
If the island threatened Taylor's or his parents safety he wouldn't hesistate to advance. They were hundreds of miles away. He couldn't allow himself to die in this strange place. So long as he lived he could continue to protect his loved ones. He was only content to die if his death ensured their safety from a threat.
"What the-"
His expression turned grim. He remembered making the decision to leave the island. He remembered walking back the way he'd came.
"I haven't moved." He whispered.
He was facing the centre of the island once more. He had no recollection of turning around. It was a paradox. He remembered heading back to the shore. And then, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, he had returned to where he stood.
His powers could sense the world around him. He urged his additional sense to monitor the world as closely as possible. His eyes and ears were decieving him. He could only hope that his powers could break through the illusion.
He started to walk away from the island's centre. His heart beat rapidly in his chest. The villains he'd fought in the last month hadn't been dangerous enough to make him feel afraid. Now he remembered what fear felt like.
He didn't breathe or blink. He stared straight ahead, not losing focus for a second. The island was still silent. The only noise was his own footsteps.
"Fuck." He cursed.
The trees were familiar. The stones were the same shape. He could see the tip of a stone building just beyond the edge of the trees. He was facing the centre of the island.
The distortion of his memories had happened again. He remembered trying to leave. And then seamlessly, he was back where he started. The island didn't want him to leave.
Alex took a deep breath. Panic would solve nothing. He carefully viewed the information his powers had gathered. He immediately noticed something strange.
Through his powers, he could percieve the world in a unique way. He could "see" "hear" and "smell" without the involvement of the corresponding sensory organs. He remembered "seeing" tree roots closer to the shore. He could perfectly picture the gnarled bark and mossy roots.
'It's turning back time.'
The realisation sent a shiver down his spine. The island wasn't altering his memories, it didn't need to. After seven steps, the flow of time reversed. It was impossible for him to remember turning back to the centre of the island, because he never had.
He stared at the tip of the stone building. The structure wasn't natural. The roof was slanted and covered by tiles. Someone, or something, had built it.
He gritted his teeth. The island wasn't giving him a choice. He had to go deeper. He started to advance. This time, as he planted his foot on the earth for the eighth step, the flow of time didn't change. The island wanted him to reach the centre. He had no choice but to obey.
The stone building gradually revealed itself from between the trees. It was a church. The pointed tip he'd seen was a spire. The church wasn't large, somehow he knew without thought, that it's size was perfect. Any larger would be wrong, any smaller would also be incorrect. There was something about the building that radiated a beauty more enchanting than words could ever describe.
The stained glass window showed an angelic figure standing in a field of violet flowers. The same violet flowers grew in radiant clusters all around. The rest of the world quietly dissapeared from Alex's perception. He was only conscious of the violet flowers and enchanting building.
The church door slowly swung open. The faint creak extricated Alex from the state beyond awareness. He blinked and suddenly he was standing inside. The sunlight streamed through the stained glass window. The angelic figure in the field of violet flowers shimmered.
He blinked. His hands didn't move, yet somehow they were clasped together in prayer. Time didn't exist in the church. He had no idea how long he remained in prayer. He only knew that it was long enough. He blinked again.
A figure stood before him. The angel smiled. He knew without question that it was an angel.
"Hello child." The angel's voice was as soft as gossamer.
"Forgive me, it has been many centuries since my people spoke to your kind. The creator watches us. His gaze changes things in ways that your mind cannot process." The angel said.
Alex tried to speak. Melodic singing flowed out instead of words.
The angel shook its head. Its golden pupils contained a boundless love for all things, "Do not speak child. I do not communicate with you in the language you know. Your mind simply percieves it as such."
"You are not a believer. He does not require your faith. Your plane is one that we cannot walk in. Once we could, but that was lost. This church is all that remains. After you have left, we shall hide it where your kind may never again discover it." The angel touched Alex's shoulder softly. The skin where its fingers rested bloomed with golden light.
"Thank you child. The devil's minions hid this place from us with blood and fire. Now it is found once more. The father thanks you. He grants me power to bestow a blessing upon you."
The angel's golden wings stretched out. They began to flap. The wind swirled violently. There was holiness in the violence. The winds lifted Alex into the air. The world began to spin.
"Goodbye child." The angel's voice danced in the wind.
Alex's eyes opened. He knew immediately that the angel had departed. The swirling winds had returned him to the shore. He could hear the water gently wash across the pebbles. The church on the island had swallowed up all sound. After its vanishing, he could hear again.
He looked to his hand. A golden ring was wrapped around his finger. He took it off slowly and turned it over, looking at it from every angle. The ring was decorated with a pair of beautiful wings. The angel had told him that he would recieve a blessing. It was clear that the ring was the blessing, but he had no idea what its purpose was.
He looked across at the water. With a fluid motion he hurled the ring out into the lake. The slim golden band produced a ripple as it hit the water.
Alex looked to his finger. The ring was there as if it had never moved. He'd somehow known without doubt that it would return to him if ever it was lost.
The mysterious ring was a blessing from the angel's creator. He'd already encountered the servants of the devil. If hell existed, then it seemed natural that heaven would too. The ring's function remained unknown for the moment. Until it's purpose was revealed, it was just a shiny, but admittedly magical, trinket.
The blessing had been heaven's reward. There was another benefit that Alex had recieved. He grinned joyfully thinking about it. When the angel's hand had rested on his shoulder, he'd sensed an opportunity.
He didn't know whether the angel was aware of what he'd done. In that brief moment of contact he'd urged his powers with all his might to build a bridge between him and the divine being. What he'd recieved was staggering.
From the way the angel spoke about the earthly plane, it's true body was likely located in a different layer of reality. The being that had touched him in the church was only a vessel for its spirit. That vessel contained extraordinary power.
'If I can copy its structure-' Alex's eyes blazed with desire.
'-I'll be as powerful as a Guardian!'