Introduction
Baa'ra is a Malakite of Fire and is currently serving as part of the Host's contingent in the Southampton region. Like many of those serving Fire, he is hostile to those of Judgement.
However, he was partly responsible for bringing to light the plot concerning the rogue Triad, the Outcast of Michael and the Grigori who once was of Creation. He is also known to co-operate with our representative in Southampton, the Mercurian known as Tony.
His record reveals Baa'ra to be a hard working and competent angel, though his loyalty to Gabriel, his tendency to cause Symphonic Disturbance and his friendship to one Ka'shi'an, are all reasons why he is being monitored.
A young Ofanite called Lucas has been assigned to assist Baa'ra, although Baa'ra was unaccompanied at the time I encountered him.
The reasons for the interview were to determine what lay behind the attempt to destroy the angelic presence in Southampton by the agents of Vapula and the nature of the alternative reality simulation used against those angels who were captured.
It is believed that Baa'ra could provide an unique viewpoint on the relevant events, especially on the experiment of Vapula's.
Interview
I found Baa'ra with more ease than I had originally expected. He was engaged in a fight with four humans in one of the more suspect areas of Southampton and he was causing a small ripple of Symphonic Disturbance while doing so. It was this Disturbance that led me to him.
After a brief and one-sided scuffle, I made my presence known to him. I attempted to greet him, but he interrupted me by saying 'Don't say a bloody word' and that I was to accompany him.
Leaving the area, we walked briskly for at least five minutes, before he stopped. I then made my formal introduction. What follows is a word for word transcript of our conversation and I have included additional notes covering various points of interest, such as Baa'ra's general attitude, his reactions, and various other details.
Baa'ra: What do you want? (There was little attempt to hide the disdain in his voice.)
Regulus: I was ordered to come and question you on the recent incident with Vapula, his experiment and other related issues.
Baa'ra: Has this been sanctioned 'Upstairs' or are you another of Dominic's servants on a solo project?
Regulus: I have been sanctioned by Dominic to speak to you. I take it that your last remark was referring to the rogue Triad you recently encountered?
Baa'ra: Boy, don't you catch on fast? Besides, shouldn't there be three of you or something? (Laced with heavy sarcasm.)
Regulus: I am trying to investigate the recent events concerning Vapula, and to assess if any further action is required. A Triad will only be needed if I find there is anything that needs attending to.
Baa'ra: Yet I am being judged at the same. So why is the Archangel of Judgement so interested in what Vapula's been up to? (He is perceptive, if nothing else.)
Regulus: I am not authorised to tell you that at this point in time.
Baa'ra: So if I don't answer all your questions to your satisfaction, I get my butt hauled 'Upstairs' for 'further questioning', while you can stand there and get away with saying nothing. (Visibly irritated by my last reply.)
Regulus: I am not responsible for the current system..... (I was interrupted)
Baa'ra: And you are just doing your job, yeah right. Pity, you weren't around when the rogue Triad was around. (He was trying to railroad the conversation at this point.)
Regulus: We apply the same standards to ourselves as to other groups, perhaps more so. Their loss was unfortunate. (On this occasion I was forced to concede this point. Baa'ra paused as if he was about to say something else about the subject and then stopped himself.)
Baa'ra: Let's get this over and done with. (He said this, in a bid to change the subject, finally accepting the situation, although I must add he did so without good grace.)
Regulus: I couldn't help noticing the Symphonic Disturbance when I arrived, would you care to explain that first?
Baa'ra: The four 'gentlemen' had come to me with a proposition. They were the hired help, authorised to offer me a deal. All I had to do was leave the local drug dealers alone and stop interfering with the delivery of new shipments.
Regulus: So what was the nature of the deal?
Baa'ra: Either to walk away with the bribe from their bosses, or to never walk away again. (A scary thought, someone was daft enough to attempt to bribe a Malakite.)
Regulus: Let me guess. You chose not to take the money and still wanted the use of your legs, and then the fight broke out.
Baa'ra: I did warn them first, but they insisted. All I did was oblige them. Besides, they all had to be punished.
Regulus: So why did you tell me to be quiet after you had defeated them?
Baa'ra: Because you might have called me by my angelic name, and I didn't wish them to hear it.
Regulus: And why not?
Baa'ra: At the moment, those who were responsible for sending them can not be certain as to who or what is behind for all the problems in their supply and distribution network. (Said as if he was labouring the point.)
Regulus: They will probably find out anyway.
Baa'ra: Eventually, especially if someone from 'Downstairs' is involved. However, if you had identified me, it would make their job of trying to counter me somewhat easier.
Regulus: I noticed that your young charge Lucas is not with you.
Baa'ra: He is spending the day at the University, as he has his role to work on.
Regulus: I see. Records indicate that you are without a role of your own at the moment.
Baa'ra: That's correct.
Regulus: Would you want one, as it may help you in your work? It may even cut down the amount of disturbance you cause. (I thought I would try to offer some advice on this issue, before it became a major one.)
Baa'ra: It is a possibility. Although from past experience, having a role can cause as many problems as it solves. For instance, not having a role makes it harder for those I oppose to find me and it also means I don't have to spend time keeping up the pretence just for the role's sake. (I am not convinced by his arguments presented here.)
Regulus: So what are you going to do about those who just attacked you?
Baa'ra: The police are well on their way by now, and they will have a hard time explaining the drugs and the firearms that they were carrying.
Regulus: Will the fact that you left them unconscious be a problem?
Baa'ra: A slight one. However, they still would have to explain how they were accosted by one unarmed assailant, given their guns and their greater numbers.
Regulus: The police still could cause you problems. After all are you not taking the law into your own hands?
Baa'ra: Excuse me, but when has a servant of Dominic been worried about 'human law', particularly when performing a mission set by a Superior from 'Upstairs'. I was under the impression that all you cared about was the Law according to Judgement. (Slight surprise shown here, although this rapidly turns into an attempt at provocation.)
Regulus: My point was to highlight the difficulties you would face if you were arrested by them. (I was not going to be drawn on the issue.)
Baa'ra: I am well aware of those difficulties! While this is all very interesting, it is not the reason you are here, is it? (Slight annoyance and impatience here, as he suggests changing the subject.)
Regulus: I agree. Tell me about the events leading up to your encounter with the 'Alternate Reality' created by Vapula. (There was little more that could be gained on the previous topic of discussion.)
Baa'ra: The Southampton angelic cell had recently been responsible for closing down an operation of Vapula's. It involved the use of transmitters that sent out subliminal messages to influence humans. These transmitters were hidden inside toys known as 'Beanie Frogs'.
Regulus: 'Beanie' what?
Baa'ra: 'Beanie Frogs.' It is one of these human fads they are prone to. Anyway, after raiding Vapula's base in Southampton, we were left with a few dead demon vessels, an escaped Habbalite, all of whom served Vapula, and a captured Lilim of Theft.
Regulus: So why wasn't the Lilim destroyed or at least handed over to the relevant authorities?
Baa'ra: What, like you? I can just imagine the sort of treatment she would get from you and your kind! The main reason she wasn't killed was that I detected no malice in her, even though she is a demon and that she was a candidate for redemption. (A certain amount of venom was attached to this statement.)
Regulus: Is that all your reasoning? She lives because she is a redemption candidate!
Baa'ra: You are in danger of mocking me and the nature of my choir. You know what we are able to read about others, like you for instance? Do you wish to know what I can see about you? (Still in a somewhat annoyed tone.)
Regulus: No, that will not be necessary. You were about to tell me why the Lilim was not destroyed. (I believed he checked me out anyway, despite my expressed wishes.)
Baa'ra: I reasoned the opportunity of redeeming a Lilim does not present itself often, and if it was achieved, it would be an evil destroyed, not merely destroying a vessel. Besides, if she didn't, the process would destroy her anyway, assuming we didn't kill her first. Anyway, it wasn't as if I acted alone, those present had the opportunity to object and no voice was against trying to redeem her. This includes your Dominican colleague, the Mercurian who calls himself Tony.
Regulus: So what happened next?
Baa'ra: The Lilim was taken to the Seneschal at the Common as it seemed the more logical place to seed the first pangs of doubt in the Lilim's mind about her demonic ways.
Regulus: Why the Novalis tether?
Baa'ra: Simple. It is no secret that Novalis's people are the most likely to speak kindly to demons and help them try to understand their wicked ways. Being a Seneschal, it also meant that Clementine was more likely to have a better idea of how to go about setting someone for redemption. (Records show that none of Southampton cell have had any direct experience at setting someone up for redemption, let alone involving something as difficult as a Bright. Clementine is the name of the Seneschal at the Common.)
Regulus: So what did you do during this time?
Baa'ra: I left, and returned to my duties.
Regulus: Why? Surely it would have been better to have stayed and watch the Lilim. (I had to check if this was actually a failure to carry out his duty, taking the latter event into account.)
Baa'ra: Is that assuming that half a dozen angels or so could not handle a Lilim? A number that included a Seneschal of a tether and a Malakite of the Sword among others. I was little use to the proceedings. Herbal tea is not to my taste. (Said with a certain amount of disdain.)
Regulus: So what did they do then?
Baa'ra: They let her go! (Baa'ra said this with a certain amount of frustration, indicating this would have been something he wouldn't have allowed.)
Regulus: And why did they do this?
Baa'ra: How should I know? I wasn't there. You had better ask them.
Regulus: But you must have an idea why?
Baa'ra: My best guess is to give her time to think, perhaps. I believed it was foolish to let her go and not keep some sort of tail on her. (It would have been a wise precaution. On this point I tend to agree with Baa'ra.)
Regulus: So what happened to her then?
Baa'ra: I guess she was either picked up by Vapula's people, or returned there on her own accord, despite the grilling she would receive and the danger she was likely to walk into.
Regulus: And how do you know this?
Baa'ra: Before I left, the Lilim mentioned that the escaped Habbalite would likely blame her for the loss of the lab, partly to deflect some of Vapula's anger from his own failure. Not an unreasonable assumption, given she was there to test their security measures and we just waltzed in, admittedly with Martin's help. (Martin is the Kyriotate of Jean in Southampton.)
Regulus: I see. Did she say anything else?
Baa'ra: Something about those who fail Vapula frequently end up as part of one of his experiments.
Regulus: Perhaps she should have been destroyed from the start?
Baa'ra: No, I disagree. I stand by my assessment of her.
Regulus: Why?
Baa'ra: As things stand, she is not in a position to go back to the other side and escape punishment. Her fate would be sealed, by becoming a subject in one of Vapula's experiment. (Apparently this is the Lilim's fate.)
Regulus: She could go renegade? (Simply voicing the other option.)
Baa'ra: What and be hunted by both sides? Besides, putting ourselves at risk for her has probably made her more likely to redeem.
Regulus: That's just an opinion.
Baa'ra: Is it? I have not tainted by the touch of dissonance for my decision in this or any other matter and that is one measure I can rely upon. (Although this is a truthful statement, it did have the ring of being almost a boastful one as well.)
Regulus: So, let's move onto the incident at the restaurant, how did that come about?
Baa'ra: It was a trap laid by Vapula's agent to capture us and allow him to get some measure of revenge. Prior to the actual incident, Zebediah had been already taken prisoner, not that we knew this had occurred at the time. (Zebediah is the Malakite of the Sword in the Southampton area.)
Regulus: Go on.
Baa'ra: It began with a phone call from Lucille the Lilim to Bernard, I believe. She said that she wanted to met with us and that she wanted to redeem. He was able to seem she lied by omission and that it was a trap. Anyway, she arranged to meet us at the restaurant. (Note how Baa'ra even uses the Lilim's name suggesting a degree of familiarity, I decided that I would check how familiar Baa'ra become later. Bernard is the other servant of Lightning in the cell. He is the Seraph in the group.)
Regulus: I wish to check something here. You knew it to be a trap and you still went anyway?
Baa'ra: Yes, of course we did. Our main aim was to get her out of there, by going out the back of the restaurant and getting clear of the area as fast as we could.
Regulus: It didn't quite go to plan, did it?
Baa'ra: No, I have to admit that. We underestimated how far Vapula was prepared to go to capture us, and the large amount of resources he was willing to spend doing it.
Regulus. So, it is fair to say that you weren't prepared for what took place, then?
Baa'ra: We wasn't expecting twenty plus soldiers armed with gas canisters and tasers, accompanied by at least one demon carrying a force catcher and that's ignoring the raids set off to divert the human police away from the restaurant. Also, that doesn't include any back-up Vapula had sent and that he was willing to pull all this off in board daylight.
Regulus: It sounds like you're making excuses.
Baa'ra: No, it was a statement of the lengths that Vapula went to in order to capture us. I don't believe in making excuses. (This seems to be a truthful remark.)
Regulus: However, it is fair to say that both Ka'shi'an and Martin were captured and as far as I understand, so nearly were you. That would hardly count as a success, would it?
Baa'ra: It is true that Martin ended up in the force catcher and Ka'shi'an succumbed to the gas, but Vapula's agents failed to capture Lucas or Bernard and the pair of them managed to get the Lilim out of there, mostly at my insistence. Added to that the demon was taken out, as were the vast majority of the soldiers, it could hardly be called a success for them either.
Regulus: I am glad you mentioned the Lilim again. What about the Lilim and her part in the proceedings? (After noting that Baa'ra had used the Lilim's first name, I thought it prudent to probe deeper into that area of concern, namely if Baa'ra was involved with this Lilim in something other than in a professional capacity.)
Baa'ra: What do you mean by 'her part in the proceedings?' (This line of questioning seemed to take him by surprise.)
Regulus: The fact she was the one set up the meeting in the first place and then was used as bait. Does this cause you any problems, particularly as regards to her suitability to redeeming?
Baa'ra: She was hardly a willing participant in the whole affair.
Regulus: And how do you work that one out?
Baa'ra: Simple. They forced her to comply by use of a geas. She was there because of what she is and no other reason. (I found it odd that he chose to defend her in this way.)
Regulus: One might say that you are protecting her. Is this true?
Baa'ra: One might say that you are straying somewhat off the subject that you were here to ask me questions about! (He is clearly annoyed and was trying to avoid answering the question, or at least trying to.)
Regulus: I am trying to get an idea of the overall state of affairs, and seeing what if anything needs attention. So answer the question!
Baa'ra: I destroy demons, not protect them, for the record. Bernard noted at the time that she wanted to redeem. It was the trap that she was unable to talk about. So are you going to accuse your fellow Seraph of lying and accuse him of protecting her as well? (Visibly angry and rattled.)
Regulus: No, I think that covers that subject for now. Shall we continue? The record states that you then disappeared and were next seen inside the Virtual Reality Program, but not apparently as part of it. How did this come about?
Baa'ra: Overcome by the gas and losing consciousness rapidly, I instinctively called out to Milady and she saw it fit to answer my call. (He refers to Gabriel when he uses the term 'Milady'.)
Regulus: You called to Gabriel?
Baa'ra: Who else would I call to? Your boss? (Said with a heavy tone of sarcasm, trying to provoke a reaction.)
Regulus: So why did she help only you and not the others?
Baa'ra: As I said I was passing out as I called and I didn't have time to make any requests of Her. I can only presume that seeing I was in trouble, She pulled me out.
Regulus: Then what happened next?
Baa'ra: I don't know how long I was out for, but I awoke in Milady's presence, all the toxins purged for my system, feeling somewhat refreshed and somewhat humbled by being so close to Her. (This whole sequence shows his utter loyalty to her, particularly by the usage of the word 'humbled'.)
Regulus: So what did Gabriel do when you awoke?
Baa'ra: She asked why for the reason for my call. I explained the circumstances of the fight in the restaurant and that I believed that some of the others were in danger, and I need to get back to help them.
Regulus: How did she then reply?
Baa'ra: She explained that they were in danger, and she was going to send me in to help them. In fact, I was to 'lead them out', and with that I was gone.
Regulus: So you then arrived in the VR simulation, beside Ka'shi'an, Martin and Zebediah.
Baa'ra: That is correct.
Regulus. Do you have any idea how you came to be there?
Baa'ra: No. I believe the technicians who oversaw the system had no idea what I was and how I got there either.
Regulus: They believed you to be some sort of 'Virus' or 'rogue program'.
Baa'ra: It might have been a Song, I guess. I can't say for sure, those of us who serve can not truly say what our superiors are capable of. Wouldn't you agree? (Again, he is attempting to dictate the direction of the conversation.)
Regulus: I don't believe that is relevant at the moment. Do you think that it was right of Gabriel to send you in?
Baa'ra: You're are asking me to question the decision of my superior? (He said this somewhat defensively.)
Regulus. Stop stalling and answer the question!
Baa'ra: Yes, it was right! (He believes this!)
Regulus: Why? If you knew where you were going to end up, you might of objected. Especially as you going to be placed in great danger.
Baa'ra: Listen Seraph! I believe there is the small matter of a War going on with the Fallen at the moment. There will always be times where you are put into danger and do things may object to. When you're on the Front line, you soon understand that war is far from nice and safe. It's deadly, dirty and no place for cowards! (Getting annoyed again!)
Regulus: But why, Baa'ra? You didn't answer my question.
Baa'ra: It was necessary. Someone had to be in there, so that those who were trapped inside had a lifeline and it had to be someone who wasn't part of the program. This time that someone was me. It was the only way we could ensure we got the other back, otherwise we might have lost them for good. (Somewhat overstating the case, but basically a truthful assessment.)
Regulus: I see.
Baa'ra: I resent the fact that you are trying to get me into a position where I might end up criticising my own Archangel. Is that the case?
Regulus: My brief, as I have said already, was to determine if any further action needed to be taken and to determine what happened.
Baa'ra: Now, it is you who are stalling! (Deliberately trying to provoke a reaction again.)
Regulus: I am not the one being questioned here. (I chose to remain calm.)
Baa'ra: How convenient for you! (He seemed close to exploding this point, I decided to change subject.)
Regulus: Would you describe the nature of the VR simulation for me?
Baa'ra: The scenario was a post-Apocalypse one, where the Forces of Hell won because God chose to walk away from the Host, rather than support it at the final battle. (He relaxes slightly when talking about this subject.)
Regulus: Go on.
Baa'ra: Many of the Archangels were killed like Laurence and Michael. Others chose to escape, David to the centre of the Earth, Jean into the Internet, and my own to Limbo. Some fell, like your boss!
Regulus: Continue. (I ignored the blatant remarked at my expense.)
Baa'ra: The world that remained was divided up between the surviving Princes - Asmodeus claimed the UK, Kronos got Switzerland, Lilith had Antarctica, Andrealphus, Nybbas, and Vapula carved up the States between them and so on. We were placed into the UK portion of the program, Southampton in fact. The place resembled the Southampton we all knew, but then were a number of differences. A car park built on the site of the Common is, for instance.
Regulus: Do you why this was so?
Baa'ra: It is possible that it was a deliberate placement on the part of the programmers or that it was a simple construction based around what Case, Martin and Zebediah were familiar with.
Regulus: Case?
Baa'ra: Case is the name that Ka'shi'an's friends and the Southampton cell call him. It is also his vessel's name. (Labouring the point.)
Regulus: Did you notice any other differences?
Baa'ra: Yes. Southampton was being run as a police state, everything ordered and controlled in order to subdue the populace. A two-tiered social system had been set up. The privileged class known as 'Party members', enjoyed the perks and the better of the things, or rather they were allowed marginally better quality of living. The programmers had even gone as far as to create a fake Heaven. It was empty, desolate and in ruins. Shards everywhere, except for those angels trapped within the program and a few additional ones programmed in to give the false hope of other angels surviving.
Regulus: What would you think the purpose of this?
Baa'ra: Partly to crush morale, to give hope and have it betrayed and partly to set up 'resistance' scenarios, where would-be prisoners could be persuaded to let down their guard and perhaps show various secrets pertaining to their Word. Hunted angels all working together against the odds, not realising that some of their number are just programmed illusions.
Regulus: I see. Given you have already given the use of such a tool some thought, what else have you thought of?
Baa'ra: You will not like this one. I believe that situations could be set up to push angelic prisoners over the edge and could cause them to go outcast or even perhaps fall! (I find this aspect a little disturbing for two reasons. The first is the program could potentially do this and secondly that Baa'ra can think like this. I felt that I needed to investigate this aspect a bit more.)
Regulus: Given that most angels would realise that things were fake and remember that they were captured, and therefore not accept what was happening to them. Shouldn't they be able to disbelieve the situations set up for them?
Baa'ra: Initially, yes. To begin with those trapped inside would be able to tell with some degree of certainty that things were wrong. Any resonance checked for, any Symphonic Disturbance, and so on would sound and feel wrong, 'off-key' would be a better word.
Regulus: You said 'initially', am I right to assume that things change? (He had obviously set up his last reply, in order to prompt my next question.)
Baa'ra: To those trapped inside, the longer they were inside there, the more 'correct' such things would seem to them. Whether it is due to some proactive conditioning or it was the program adjusting to their reactions and fine-tuning the responses, I can't say.
Regulus: By your choice of words, am I to assume that you did not suffer such an effect?
Baa'ra: Correct. While I got used to the 'off-key' effect, it always sounded 'off-key' to me while I was in there. Perhaps it was because I was never truly a part of the program nor directly controlled by it. (He is showing signs that he believed himself to be a superior position to the others at that time.)
Regulus: Did you exhibit any other differences to the others?
Baa'ra: A few. Unlike the others, my Heart was not present in the place where it should have been. I could also will myself out of that place and would emerge into a black void. This void resembles descriptions I have heard of Limbo. The other could not do this.
Regulus: What lead you to discover this 'ability'?
Baa'ra: A hunch!
Regulus: A hunch. So is that where you believed you were, situated in Limbo? (Servants of Fire often chose to act on their hunches!)
Baa'ra: That is the only reference I have to where we might have been. Although, as the perceptions of the others were being controlled while they were effectively unconscious, it suggests we could have been somewhere in the deep Marches and the blackness could have been a shielding effect to hide what Vapula was up to. After all, the programme could be deemed as a dream or nightmare of sorts. I have to admit this is only my opinion. (This did not ring true, although it was a false assumption on Baa'ra's part, rather than an attempt to lie.)
Regulus: So after arrival, what did you do while you were in there?
Baa'ra: After surveying the scene, we began by looking for a way out. Milady had somehow inserted me, proving there was another way in and we assumed that it was likely that we would be monitored, therefore there was a way to do this and if so it was likely that would be a way out, a 'back door' as I believe those in the know call it. (The logic presented here is not totally sound.)
Regulus: How did you attempt to find this 'back door' as it were?
Baa'ra: A reasonable assumption was that a copy of Vapula's lab in Southampton would exist in the program and it seemed that this would be a good place to begin.
Regulus: By what reasoning did the four of you arrive at this decision?
Baa'ra: We believed it would either provide some sort of information where we could find such an exit or we might be lucky and find it there. So we proceeded to the lab after bypassing a couple of minor obstacles, such as the Police and the checkpoint into the relevant industrial area. We approached the lab and after making our plans to get into it, things began to go 'weird'.
Regulus: Define weird. (Given what Baa'ra was describing, it seems odd he should choose the word 'weird', as little of the situation they were in was normal.)
Baa'ra: We had just began penetrating the Vapula building when our entrance was made a damn slight easier by the appearance of 'Jean' or rather the presence of 'Jean' through a PC.
Regulus: How can you be sure that this was not an scenario set up by the programmers in order to test you, as you have previously suggested?
Baa'ra: It was partly because of the seemingly helpful attitude of this version of 'Jean', and partly because of what 'he' said.
Regulus: I am not sure if I understand what you are implying. Explain.
Baa'ra: He had helped us to get into the facility and announced that he had attained a degree of 'self-consciousness'. He also gave us instructions on how to get out, by an reference to me as the 'key' for getting the others out, mentioning that their 'Gabriel' would act as a guide.
Regulus: I do not share your opinion of why you believed him.
Baa'ra: Perhaps in the entire set-up, 'he' was the only thing that rang true to me. 'He' was also correct about our means of escape. It would be ironic and fairly typical, if a bug in Vapula's program created an ally for the Host. (This statement had the ring of truth, however unlikely!)
Regulus: So how did you escape?
Baa'ra: As we were dealing with the programmed minions of Vapula, the integrity of the program was deteriorating and 'black voids' started to randomly appear.
Regulus: I understand those who remained on Earth had begun the program's shutdown procedure.
Baa'ra: The timing seems to tally. I was able to convince everyone to hold on to me as I leapt into the darkness. (A slight untruth, I would clarify this point later.)
Regulus: So you took the risk and plunged into the darkness, what happen next?
Baa'ra: I could sense a light in the distance and headed towards it, with the others in tow. Upon arrival, we were all in the presence of Milady. I can not say if it was the one from the program or the real one. It matters little, as She returned us to the lab, where various bodies of those captured were and those who were on the 'rescue team' were also present.
Regulus: As far as the others were concerned, they returned to their bodies, or just simply released in Martin's case.
Baa'ra: He was held in a large force catcher and the others had been drugged and were 'plugged in' via electrodes.
Regulus: And you just appeared in a jet of flames, I understand?
Baa'ra: I believe so.
Regulus: Are you aware that an AI claiming to be a daughter of Vapula, escaped via the Internet?
Baa'ra: I know nothing about that, except for the information I was given afterwards. (A true statement.)
Regulus: Continue with what happened next.
Baa'ra: We linked up with Jean's people and started to secure the base.
Regulus: Are you aware just how much Jean deployed just to get you out of there?
Baa'ra: Yes, but consider what he gains. The taking of the base virtually intact, with a copy of the program. This must be something of a coup for Jean specifically and the Host in general.
Regulus: Do you really believe this?
Baa'ra: Of course, I do. I have already stated how dangerous the VR can be, but imagine such a tool in the hands of the Host. (I am well aware how such a tool could be used, although there would be risks involved. I decided to see what else he had to say on the matter.)
Regulus: You are proposing using Vapula's experiment for our own purposes. Is the wise or even desirable?
Baa'ra: I'm sure that Jean's people will check out how safe it really is!
Regulus. Indeed. We have noticed that Ka'shi'an is currently back in Heaven, and that someone else is fulfilling his role down here. (This was a particular issue you requested I should bring up.)
Baa'ra: I have to admit this is true. (The first sign of remorse or regret I have seen from Baa'ra in this interview.)
Regulus: You have to admit it is true? That sounds like an admission of guilt, Baa'ra.
Baa'ra: Not guilt, regret. (Again, this is a true statement.)
Regulus: Explain
Baa'ra: I am surprised your man Tony has not informed you. (Stalling again!)
Regulus: I have seen his report, but now I am asking you!
Baa'ra: While it would be fair to say that during our exploits, while on the whole we have been moderately successful, Case has often come off the worse for wear.
Regulus: In what way?
Baa'ra: Being beaten up and left to drown, being caused to feel fear by a Habbalite, being taken by Vapula's agent and stuck into the program and generally been hit with songs of Thunder and Harmony more times than he would care for.
Regulus: Surely as a Malakite of War, he would expect this?
Baa'ra: Possibly. He became more frustrated and his anger slowly built up within him after each 'perceived' personal failure.
Regulus: Perhaps he has put his own 'need' for victory over the needs of the group. Perhaps he should have taken comfort from the group's achievements. (I would now attempt to ascertain whether Ka'shi'an was guilty of the sin of Pride.)
Baa'ra: No, not at all. While the group was on the whole doing well, his own 'perceived' failures may have seemed more poignant and more demoralising. A personal victory now and again against the enemies of Heaven does wonders for one's morale and self belief. (An almost admirable retort, although this too could be taken as a statement of Pride.)
Regulus: You are verging onto the sin of Pride with that remark, Baa'ra. (I decided to press the point.)
Baa'ra: Like hell I am. You know that continued failure gives way to doubt and when doubt begins to prey on ones own mind, the first steps downwards have been taken.
Regulus: Do you doubt, Baa'ra?
Baa'ra: Sometimes. I have never had cause to dwell on it. You see there is always the next sunrise. (I was a little confused by this reference. There were boastful overtones to this statement as well.)
Regulus: I fail to understand your point.
Baa'ra: I am not surprised, that's because you are not of Fire. At the point of sunrise, when all things angelic taste the wonder of creation and our powers are refreshed by its rays, this is a special time for us. (The way that Baa'ra phrases this is somewhat flowery for him and where he says it with a far away look in his eye, it is also as if it is not him speaking.)
Regulus: But wouldn't it be the same to all the members of the Host?
Baa'ra: To us, the sunrise is the start of a day of new possibilities and potential. Although much will be lost and wasted, someone out there will rise from their bed and be inspired. Today will be the day they will make the positive difference for themselves and others.
Regulus: However, are you forgetting those who would destroy and kill others, and be inspired by negative thoughts, thus making their souls the property of Hell?
Baa'ra: That's why we must punish! (Said almost sadly.)
Regulus: All this is very interesting, but let's get back to the subject of Ka'shi'an. You were aware of the situation of his problems as they were developing and yet you chose not to report it earlier?
Baa'ra: I was monitoring the situation. I was concerned with the way that Case was beginning to take things personally and was worried it might be effecting his judgement.
Regulus: I repeat the question. You still chose not to report him?
Baa'ra: I had no evidence to suggest he was losing it, and therefore I could only monitor him. It seemed that he was able to regain his pose and control despite his knock-backs. (Becoming irritated again by the last question.)
Regulus: This includes the incident where he nearly shoved a fire extinguisher into Bernard's face.
Baa'ra: He missed and he chose to miss. If he had hit Bernard, then I would have cause to report him.
Regulus: So what happened to him that made him seek help?
Baa'ra: I believe the VR simulation was the thing that pushed him to the edge.
Regulus: Only to the edge and not over it?
Baa'ra: No, he saw the dangers to himself and sought help. (One might argue his friendship to Ka'shi'an was blinding him, but he was telling the truth.)
Regulus: So how did this 'coming to the edge' as you put it, manifest itself? I do require you to answer for the record.
Baa'ra: I can only guess that all the doubts and frustrations he had been experiencing, coupled with the VR confinement, caused him to temporarily lose sight of his objectivity. In his rage, it was obvious that he didn't know what to believe was real and what was not.
Regulus: Go on.
Baa'ra He got to the point where he would leap into combat at almost any opportunity and he even tried to remain behind when the rest of us were discussing leaving.
Regulus: So why didn't you go without him then?
Baa'ra: I neither wanted to nor could do so. My Oaths would not let me. It had to be all of us out at the same time. I suppose one could say he had a death wish by that point.
Regulus: How did you get him out?
Baa'ra: At the point where the program was being shut down, the integrity in there was such that even he was convinced enough to leave with the rest of us. When all the fireworks were over, he left without saying a word and went 'Upstairs'. (This clarifies the earlier untruth. This time we have the full story!)
Regulus: What was your reaction on finding this out?
Baa'ra: Concerned and relieved.
Regulus: Isn't that a contradiction in terms?
Baa'ra: I was concerned by his behaviour in the VR, and the fact he might not be returning, and relieved that he had opted that choice of action when we got out, as it meant I didn't have to report him.
Regulus: Would you have reported him, if necessary?
Baa'ra: Probably, assuming it was necessary.
Regulus: That didn't answer the question, Baa'ra!
Baa'ra: If you will ask questions concerning possible reaction to events that might happen, then that is the best answer you are going to get. Now, I believe this interview is over. (He had enough and my questioning regarding Ka'shi'an was hitting a sore point.)
Regulus: I am the one who decides if this is over or not.
Baa'ra: Really? Unless you have anything else to ask regarding the VR, your time is up and I have duties to attend to. So the question is are you going to stop me? (Baa'ra was probably now wound up enough to hit me, and he had guessed that I was just about finished anyway, and was trying to get a few extra bits of information regarding Ka'shi'an.)
Regulus: No, I have finished with you for now.
Baa'ra: Then this interview is over.
Baa'ra then stormed off, and heading off in the general directions of the docks, possibly looking for some more people to punish.
Conclusions
Baa'ra seems to be a loyal servant of the Host and generally was truthful in his answers. The few minor untruths he came out with were because he did not either give the full answer, or due to him being genuinely mistaken over some minor detail, or because he made an erroneous assumption based on limited data. None were seemingly deliberate attempts to mislead. Therefore no charges can be brought on this count.
Despite this, his answers came begrudgingly and he was frequently hostile, rude and tried to deliberately provoke a reaction out of me. He also occasionally ignored the fact that I was there to ask him questions and not the other way round. While some allowance could be made because of the previous rogue Triad he encountered, he still typifies many of those in the Word of Fire who blame Judgement for what happen to their Archangel.
Speaking of Gabriel, Baa'ra is certainly loyal to her and clearly was trying to avoid directly criticising her for her actions in this matter, and clearly overestimated the importance of her 'decision' to send him into the VR to rescue the others.
He is also overtly protective of Ka'shi'an. This may be partly due to their friendship, and partly due to the brotherhood of Malakim that they both share. On this matter, though, his instincts proved correct and it is difficult to criticise him regarding the handling of this aspect.
I do, however, bring into question his suitability for his current assignment on Earth, particularly because of the direct approach he takes when dealing with 'problems' and the knock on Symphonic Disturbances this causes. The frequency of these are made more so, due to a lack of a role. I believe that some sort of deposition should be made to Soldekai to either have Baa'ra removed from this posting, an unlikely event I admit, or at least provide him with a role to curb some of the Disturbances. Also I don't understand why such an individual would be given a young charge, the Ofanite Lucas, to look after. I can't see the wisdom in that as it is likely that Baa'ra will only pass on his bad habits!
His assessment of the Vapula VR program, particularly the uses it could be put to and the part they could be used to cause angels to fall, was sound. This alone makes the whole affair worthy of our attention. I advise we should interview the other in the Southampton cell, with particular reference to those who were trapped within it for a time, in case they were affected in the way that Ka'shi'an was.
I advise that Ka'shi'an should also be questioned, but we will have to wait until he is out of Michael's care as we would almost certainly not be allowed access before then.
As to its possible location, I cannot agree with Baa'ra's assumption that it lies in the Marches or in Limbo as he suggests.
Baa'ra's comments on 'personal victories' did strike me as something akin to pride, a common problem with Malakim. However, it seemed to be more of an observation of a soldier at the front rather than a statement of belief.
His remarks about the sunrise being more important to the Word of Fire than to others is somewhat more controversial. Although not strictly heretical, it probably would upset many outside the Word of Fire to hear it, those who serve Blandine's cause particularly.
It is something I have heard from Servitors of Fire before, and therefore Baa'ra is not unique in that regard. It is a point of view I do not share, though I can see why those of Fire can identify with that philosophy.
While it may serve to aid them in their day-to-day struggles against the Foe, it can also help them to excuse some of their more excessive tendencies in their own eyes.
One thing I am not certain about is the attempt to redeem the Lilim, seemingly initiated by Baa'ra and eagerly taken up by the majority of the Host's representatives in
Southampton.
When I say I am not sure, I question the likelihood of success and secondly whether the possibility of gaining a Bright was worth the risks the Southampton cell took.
Baa'ra was correct about one thing, though -- he has not picked up any dissonance over the matter. And while he continues to remain untainted, he will continue to believe he was correct in the matter of the Lilim. I hope the Lilim does redeem and if she does, may I advise that she be placed to serve somewhere well away from Southampton - Vapula may not be finished with our Angels there yet!
As regards to Baa'ra, I believe that there is enough to warrant further observation of him and what he does. There is little reason for the moment to charge him with anything. I would like to volunteer for the task as it would be unfair to let another one of your servants deal with this particular angel.
Your loyal servant,
Regulus
---