It was another day in paradise, and by paradise it was literally Heaven. Beyond its heavenly gates laid Eden where almost every good thing was given to those deemed worthy. High above it was God and his Archangels who help maintain the peace in case of another uprising like centuries ago. In one such office, Rathanael, one of the newer archangels, was dealing with paperwork; going through all the deeds and events that happened on a monthly basis under his jurisdiction.
"Good morning, Rathaneal," said a voice. The archangel looked up to see his old friend Jamaearah who also was one of the newest archangels of God's ranks.
"Ah, morning Jamae," said Rathanel. 'Jamae' was his friends' nickname he was told to use often. When replenishing the ranks of the archangels, he and Jamae were among the first promising prospects. And now, they were the newest instruments in keeping the world peace.
"So how are things looking?" asked his friend.
"So far so good. Good deeds are still coming in, prayer requests are increasing and no sign of any trouble from a certain individual."
"You mean Cael?"
Rathanael's writing came to a temporary halt at the name. After a small awkward pause, he finally spoke. "Yes. Him," he said sounding exasperated and annoyed.
"Oh come on, Rath," said Jamaearah, leaning on Rathaneal's desk using his nickname for his discomforted friend. "Give the guy a chance. Sure he's rough around the edges, but he gets the job done."
"It's more of his methods I'm concerned about. You've seen how he is. His foul mouth is surpassed only by his skills from his past life. Every time I come so close to rehabilitating him, he messes it up."
"Well no archangel is absolutely perfect. I mean look at Gabriel. There's always a way to work with someone no matter how stubborn they might be."
"I have tried everything. Nothing I've done seems to have a lasting effect on him."
"Then you're probably not gonna like this." Jamaearah handed him a golden envelope. Rathanael took the envelope with widened eyes and looked it over thoroughly. Brows were raised as he finished the mission status.
"Is this for real?"
"You know it's real, Rath. No one can ever forge an order like this for their own gain, especially by him," said Jamaearah, pointing upwards to emphasize his point. "And guess who's the lucky bastard to do it?"
Rathanael continued to see the angel designated for the important assignment and froze with shock. "No. You cannot be serious!"
"It's no joke, man. He wants said angel to take on this particular assignment."
"We are talking about the same angel here, right? For all we know he could mess this up for certain."
"If he does, then maybe he'll get the idea and hopefully change his attitude. But if he doesn't, then it's a win for us. I mean you got to look at all the outcomes, mon freer. Besides, you can't go back on the Lord's demands. He has his plans and ways for such things."
Sighing, Rathanael leaned back in his chair in dismay. "Alright, call him in then."
"You got ,it pal." Jamaearah said as he turned around and headed for the loudspeaker.
"Please Lord, don't let this be a mistake." Rathanael prayed to himself as he held his head in his hands.
Meanwhile, somewhere in the heavenly realm of paradise, Cael was rolling his eyes as he waited for the next song to be done and over with so he could get on with the rest of the day. He had been annoyed by the same usual heavenly songs and hymnals they'd have to rehearse every damn Thursday. He finally got some relief as the instructor had them go over the song they were singing one more time and they would call it a day. It wasn't that he didn't mind singing, it's just that he got tired of singing the same damn kind of songs every damn week.
As practice was dismissed, he walked off the stage and made a b-line towards the door leading to the heavenly white fluffy landscape that was heaven. Walking alongside him was Reggie, a fellow archangel-in-training that Carl became friends with. "Heck of a session huh?" he asked our main character as they headed for training today.
"Yeah. Crazy," grumbled Cael. He was too busy with something else in mind and his friend noticed it.
"Hey, what's the problem?"
Cael sighed as he saw angels getting coffee from a cafe for free, fishing and/or taking swings on a golfing range. "I don't know, maybe I'm just going crazy but..." Cael said hesitantly as he rubs his dark brown hair with a marine cut in frustration.
"But what? C'mon, man, you can tell me."
"Be honest with me. Do you feel happy here, Reggie?"
Reggie had a surprised look on his face. "What are you saying, Cael?"
"You heard what I said. Do you feel whole and complete here? In Heaven? Have you ever felt happy with everything you can have in paradise?"
"I...think so. Yeah, I'd say I am." Reggie seemed happy with himself.
"Well,… I just don't feel that way for some reason." They both swerved past a huge pile of clouds where some angels had been sleeping away in what looked like billowy hammocks. "I don't know, it's seems just too…heavenly." He had no other word for it than 'heavenly'.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, it's all too good to be true. Everything's handed out on a silver platter and there's no consequences for it." They soon touched down in front of the archangel hall. "Now don't get me wrong, I love it here but there are some things I can't seem to be happy about."
"Like what exactly?"
"Well think of it like this; when was the last time anyone here had sex outside of marriage but is still in a relationship?"
Reggie thought about it for a moment. "I don't think I can recall to be honest. Heck, I don't think anyone has done anything like that at all. I mean this is Heaven. You know the rules they have here."
"That's just the problem. There's no leniency here, no small logical exceptions. It all has to be done by the book. Hell I can't fucking cuss half the time...OWW!" Cael suddenly felt a sharp shock being delivered to him. "You see what I mean? Otherwise why would I be wearing this?" He pulled down the collar of his robe and revealed a little shock collar.
"Because you're on temporary restrictions due to your um… attitude?"
"Yeah but that's just the point. There's no leniency, no exceptions on some certain rules. Like gambling for fun or fucking AHH!...intercourse with female angels. Oi geezus-yeow! Oh c'mon! I didn't even say it with a 'j'! God dammit! Egahha!" The shocks from his shock collar shook him thoroughly. Even if it wasn't enough to kill him, it was enough for him to feel the pain. "I can't stand it anymore. An adult like myself not being able to cuss while being restrained like a child. It's like living in a world of political correctness. It's not fun for anyone! And it annoys the hell out of me! Gah-ooow!" He sighed in disappointment and irritation. "It just doesn't seem fair at all, okay?"
"I hear what you're saying, Cael. But I think it's best not to let the others hear you. Especially the higher ups," his friend warned him. "You don't want them to think you're starting another rebellion like the last time centuries ago." They both noticed some of the other trainees giving them looks overhearing their conversation.
"I'm not going to start a new uprising like years ago, Reg," said an exasperated Cael. "I'm only asking for some small changes is all. Is it really too much to ask?"
"I don't think so," said Reggie. "You do have a good point though. But what can you really do about it? Everyone here is content in Heaven save for maybe you and a few others not willing to say it. Not to sound preachy or anything but you gotta get over it."
"I know, I know," sighed Cael in defeat. "I know I should, but I can't. It keeps nagging at me like a zit ready to pop. I just can't get over it."
"Look at it this way, Cael. Maybe someday you might have something go your way that'll change your mind about everything."
"Archangel trainee number 724, please report to Rathanaels' office immediately. That means you, Cael," said a voice over the loudspeaker. Some of the angels present gave him a bit of a look as he rolled his hazel eyes.
"Yeah-yeah, I'm coming," he muttered. "Looks like I'm back on the chopping block for something I did wrong again. For what I don't know." He turned to Reggie in saying so.
"C'mon dude, don't be like that. Like I said, it could be a good thing." His compadre nudged him smiling.
"Oh yeah, sure." Cael said in annoyance, adding sarcastically, "Maybe I'll get to clean the latrines for putting the moves on a female angel. See you later." He said goodbye to his friend and made for the office. There was no telling what he was in for this time.