Eli was on his third cup of coffee before Dominique arrived.

It always amused him to see how she managed to slip into the corporeal plane without anyone noticing. Natural talent coupled with endless practice. It's practically an art with her. This time, she used the momentary confusion created by two of these newfangled "automobiles" (both trying to drive down a street not designed for one) to appear, sauntering through the warm Parisian sunshine as if she had been there all along.

Eli stood and pulled out a chair for her, of course, waving off the inevitable waiter with a smile. "Coffee, black, for the lady. Trust me on this." Dominique nodded brusquely at the waiter's raised eyebrow: he flushed and went back inside the café just a little faster than normal.

"Still striking fear into the hearts of the guilty everywhere, I see. My dear, don't you ever relax?"

"Don't you?" Dominique's eyes shifted left, then right, then let her own smile out. The Archangel of Judgement really had a very nice smile, Eli noted idly. A shame her job doesn't encourage it…

"Is this a social call, business, or somewhere in between? And will we need to order lunch in the process?" I'm getting the most mixed signals from you. You've shown up in female guise - the Archangel of Judgement could be quite straight-laced at times - but there's a folder under your arm. Mixing business with pleasure, are we? Or do you just need something from me, and want to look your best for the occasion?

"Business, I'm afraid. And, yes, it’s best to order lunch. We don't want to look suspicious."

Eli frowned. "Not like you, Nikki. If you don't want to look suspicious, why meet here? What's wrong with your office? We're all conferring with each other all the time, anyway…" Eli's train of thought was interrupted by the waiter returning with the coffee. After instructing him to come back in fifteen minutes with menus, Eli turned to see Dominique relaxing, her eyes closed as she drank her coffee.

"Ah. This is good. I always liked the Parisian blends."

"Best enjoy it while you can. Marc's people are projecting that this continent will be at war within two decades."

"Really? I must have missed that briefing."

"He mentioned it to me the other day while I was trying out that new hobby of his. It involves taking a hard rubber ball and smashing it against a wall with a racquet. It's all the rage with Trade."

"That explains it. Did he say who was going to win?"

"No: he's got his own opinions about who should win, but he'll bring them up with the Council fairly soon. Probably no more than half a decade from now."

"I'll have to review, if it's going to come up for a Council vote that quickly. Anyway, as to why I'm here…" Dominique took one hand and pushed the dossier over to Eli's side of the table. The Archangel of Creation opened the bulky folder, read the first page, then immediately turned to the lists of angels. Dominique laughed.

"We are all so predictable. I did the exact same thing." Eli looked up and grinned.

"Paranoia is the Superior's burden. Once burned, twice shy, and all that. I need to know about my bad apples just as much as you do…" Eli's grin disappeared as he looked over the list containing Servitors of Creation.

"Tom? Noriel? Hezbekiah? These aren't … I mean, they've never shown … No! There's no way that he would ever do anything like this without…" Eli looked up, and his voice was no longer light.

"Lady Dominique, if there is even a hint that these people might be innocent, I want to hear about it now…"

The Archangel of Judgement shook her head. "No, Eli. I discreetly checked this information once it came into my possession. Everyone on that list is involved in a conspiracy to circumvent the will of the Council. There's no doubt at all. Drink your coffee."

Dominique watched as her companion first riffled through the rest of the lists, then turned back to the report and began to read more carefully. I must say, these little interludes have proven more useful than I thought. It is relaxing to sit, and feel the spring breeze ruffle my vessel's hair. More efficient when you have the right companion, of course. And then there are … other sensations. She noted that her vessel's internal temperature had risen a degree or two. Not that I have the time, right now. The waiter was hovering again. Dominique waved a hand in what she believed to be the right manner and the mortal hastily retreated.

Eli finally looked up uncomfortably. "Well… their hearts are in the right place." He paused for a moment, then continued. "I appreciate your discretion in bringing this to my attention privately, Lady Dominique. Rest assured that there will be no repercussions from me or mine for whatever actions you find necessary to take, although I would appreciate it if guilty Servitors of Creation are turned over to me for punishment. There are some good angels on this list: I would prefer to salvage them if I could."

Dominique shook her head again. "I cannot permit that, Eli. The situation calls for … more strenuous … actions." Her companion slammed his fist on the table.

"Dammit, Nikki! This is no time to be close-minded! We expect our fellow-angels to care more for others than themselves, and when they actually follow the idea to a logical conclusion, we turn around and…"

"And what, Lord Eli? Punish them? Do I detect a certain sympathy with their beliefs? Do you perhaps feel that they should be permitted to carry out this unauthorized plot?" Dominique waved for another cup of coffee, absurdly pleased that she seemed to have mastered the human gesture. "Well, Lord Eli? Do you agree with the purpose of the New Crusade?"

Eli looked at her, angry and frustrated at the same time. "You know that I do."

The Archangel of Judgement smiled. "Now, isn't that a coincidence?" She sipped from her refreshed cup. "So do I." Really, his expression is priceless right now.

"I don't blame you for being surprised. It surprised me too, when I realized that the crime committed against Gabriel needed to be resolved, and not by putting her on trial because she's mad. She's mad because someone's been torturing her for twenty millennia, and this plan…" - Dominique tapped the dossier - "is the best proposal I've seen yet for getting our hands on the torturer. We’ll have to modify it, of course."

"Is that why I'm here? Do you want my support in the Council?"

"My dear Eli, I have no intention at all of involving the Council. First, we’d never be able to keep it a secret; second, my open support of this plan would merely ensure that Michael would fight it to someone else's dying breath. Third, do you really think that anyone would believe that I've changed my mind about Gabriel? The Host would simply assume that I was gathering up potential rebels, and anyone with a grain of sense would stay far away from the New Crusade. I want this to work, Eli, and it will only work if everyone believes that I'm in opposition to the entire idea."

"Isn't that a lie?"

"Only if I actually say it. If I simply glare, and speak in generalities about how the Council was formed to lead the Host, and publicly instruct my Servitors to send all reports regarding the Crusade to my personal attention, why, everyone will assume that I oppose the movement. For am I not the Archangel of Judgement, dedicated to eradicating every fragment of free will and independent thought in Heaven? Am I not the Secret Balseraph, hiding my corruption beneath my cloak? Am I not…"

"At the moment, Nikki, you are just another venting Seraph. If you say that you can pull it off, I believe you. So, what's my role? Am I going to be the public leader of this little revolt? I should warn you, I may not be the best choice for the part…"

"Not precisely, although I think that you wouldn’t actually do a bad job. No, it's best if there are only rumors that an Archangel is behind it all. I had something subtler in mind. Remember how you told me that you were thinking about taking a tour of the corporeal plane for a little while?" Eli quirked an eyebrow at her.

"I mentioned that to you? Oh, yes, during that weekend in Vienna. I think that I will, actually. A year or so wandering through the corporeal plane will be just what I need to let me get a better handle on all these new changes among humanity. It's just so different now. Anyway, what does that have to do with anything?"

Dominique leaned forward. She would have been shocked to learn that she now had a completely natural, unambiguously impish grin on her face. "I'm glad that you asked. Would you mind terribly if you extended that tour … for about five decades or so?

"Please? For me?"