[Pregame, Monday the 9th, LA] Chariot of Fire

[Uri-el]

The Institute would not be a stranger to dramatic arrivals, but the appearance of the bright dot on the horizon was strangely understated. It remained there, unwavering, like a day-star--a minuscule rival to the life-giving sun even now beginning its slow descent toward evening. And then, just as suddenly as it appeared in the far distance, it arrived--a man glowing with inner fire kicking up dust with the flapping of six massive wings. Burning eyes cast about to get their bearings even as he alighted gracefully on the ground in the center of the quad. Then came the crack of sound created by his flight, scattering birds from the trees.

[Bee Haw]

As it happened, Bea had taken the bus to UNJE that afternoon after a very very delicious home-cooked Ethiopian lunch of doro wat and injera rolls, to try to see where she maybe was supposed to check in with the nice folks running the competition show.

She was meandering around, taking it all in, entirely lost, when lo ... there was a great light!

Of course she had to run over to see what was going on. Was that a falling star? A meteor? A crashing space ship? Some weapon or person of fire?

A glowing man! Six wings!

Be not afraid. Be not afraid.

She stood there just staring for a moment.

And then remembered her manners.

"Howdy!" She tipped her hat. "Goodness. Are you an angel? A student? A student-angel? A messenger?"

[Dapper Dog]

Somewhere in the distance, the groundskeeper sighed. It was going to be a long year.

[Uri-el]

The angel turned its head to take in the...cowgirl...and then edged back from her a little shyly. "Oh...I am not a student, I do not think. I am here for the contest? For Elites? I understand that this is the appropriate facility."

[Bee Haw]

She smiled brightly at him.

"Oh! I'm not a student either. We have that in common. I'm here for the contest, too. Elite Academy, I think it's called. I'm ... uh ... fairly lost in the pursuit of where precisely to hang my hat to get all squared away and checked in. But probably they'll let us know where to go. When we need to."

"Bea Hawkins," she remembered to add, with a tip of her hat. "From Oklahoma. That's in the US of A. I just flew in this morning. On a plane. Not like you. I mean I can fly but not like ... fast."

[Uri-el]

"Malik Bekhit el-Eskandarani. The people call me Uri-el." he said by way of introduction. "I am from Alexandria, but you have come a very long way. I am not surprised that you chose to do so in comfort."

[Bee Haw]

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Malik Bekhit el-Eskandarani," she replied, carefully pronouncing it correctly, or as close as she could with the twang of her own accent."

"Uri-el. An angel name. Some say Uriel could have once been Abraham, as Abraham was a native of Ur and an astronomer. And the angel Uriel taught Enoch about the stars."

"Have you lived in Alexandria all your life? Are you part of a local hero team there?"

[Uri-el]

The fire of Malik's eyes revealed little of his opinion of Enoch and Abraham.

"My family has lived in Alexandria many years," No one knew how long, exactly. There were a lot of stories. "but I am without a team. I understand that Americans move around a great deal. Are you also from Oklahoma many years?"

[Bee Haw]

"My family's similar. We've been at the ranch outside Gore as long as there's been a ranch there. It's so beautiful. Horses and cattle. Middle of nowhere."

She smiled, thinking about it.

"But you're right. A lot of Americans just drift around. Cut off from their families. No land to call their own. We were fortunate."

"I moved up to the big city, Oklahoma City, though, when I was sixteen. Right after the first public use of my ... the stuff I can do at a rodeo in Fort Worth. That got some news coverage, and I got a call from folks putting together a licensed teen team there in the city. Keeping the streets safe afterschool. Helping wherever we could. The adult team there - a trio - the OK Cavalry - handled the higher-level threats and mentored us occasionally."

"It was a hard thing to leave the world I knew behind. But my parents said when you get a call, you answer. When you get a chance to do good, you take it. And here I am again. Answering another call." The contest.

"But goodness - you've been out there solo hero-ing in Alexandria?" She looked impressed.

[Uri-el]

"I understand your position. I could hardly be a merchant looking like this. But to answer your question, Alexandria is a big place, and there are teams, but people have a way of behaving strangely around me, so they are content to let me have the harbor, where there are few complications, and they focus on the people. It is no great honor."

[Bee Haw]

He meant - he always looked like that. He couldn't switch to another form.

She had taken for the granted the ability to change back and forth. She'd remember to be in gratitude.

"How old were you when it happened? Your emergence. Is it a story you are comfortable telling?"

People behaved strangely around him. "Let me know if I'm doing or saying anything that makes you uncomfortable. It sounds like folks don't know how to be to set you at ease. I'd be glad to be on a team with you. If the contest has teamwork segments."

Were folks uncomfortable because he looked like an angel? Heck, angels were always watching over you. You didn't have to act different because you could see one.

[Uri-el]

"That is most kind, Beatrice. I have been looking forward to finding a team. I was twelve when I became on fire in my family's chapel. My wings grew in over time. My life since then has been very...cautious. But you are not cautious. You must be comfortable with your self."

[Bee Haw]

"Your family has a chapel? That sounds beautiful. And ... meaningful that it is where you emerged. Was it a moment of heightened emotion or just an ordinary moment? Were you praying?"

"But fire ... that's hard. You have to control it, or ... or stuff burns, right?" She could feel the heat of him. But did it mean no one could ever touch him safely? How isolating that must be.

Was she comfortable with herself?

"I feel a very deep well of peace when I touch my powers. I would have gone absolutely mad otherwise the first time I turned into my other form. It's bees. I can turn into a swarm of bees. It's ... wild. But also so holy. I can see in all these different directions at the same time. Take it all in. Watch over as many folks as I want as long as they don't get too far apart. But there is order and harmony in it. It feels right. A seamless choreography. A dance I already know the steps to. But it feels fine to return to my normal self, too. And much easier to stand around and talk."

[Uri-el]

"I was praying, yes, but then I was all fire, so I was not praying anymore. I try to be careful. But people catch fire of their own accord as well. I hope that here I will learn a little that will help me put out those other fires. Your ability sounds very pleasant, though. It is well to be so at peace with two selves." Later, Malik will have the opportunity to discover the opposite side of that coin, but not as yet. "Many have trouble with only one."

[Bee Haw]

She nodded eagerly to confirm he had been praying. Of course he had!

"The chapel, your family, you are..." Alexandria? That was ... Egypt? "Orthodox Christian? Or some other denomination? Does flame have any particular symbolism for you? Beyond like ... pentecost?"

[Uri-el]

"We are Copts. And there is talk of Holy Fire from Abba Anthony the Anchorite, but then a Seraph is a Burning One, so perhaps it is not the same."

[Bee Haw]

"Interesting! I've heard of that. Coptic Christians. And yeah. Seraphim. Like in Isaiah. The fiery six-winged angels. I always liked that part. Holy, holy, holy. But it's purifying. That's the lovely part."

Purity was important to her!

"The prophet felt so suddenly unclean in the face of holiness. But anyone would. We're all united in our fumbling, bumbling, flawed humanness, right? But the angel's fire was a hot coal for him to clean his lips and he felt so much better. Clean. The fire that cleans. That sets an uncomfortable person at ease."

She smiled brightly. That's how she saw his fire. Holy and cleansing. Creating peace of mind, rather than discomfort.

[Uri-el]

In Malik's experience, fire did not do those things very often. Mostly there was fear, pain, and then a residue. But it was interesting to think about. And a curious parallel to her concept of her own ability. Most people were afraid of both fire and bees. Hm...

"That would be nice, I think. Do people feel at ease around your bees?"

[Bee Haw]

She smiled a little shyly.

"Bees inspire different reactions at times. But some wish to become a part of our lovely orderly community. Our choreography. The dance and work and peace of it. If for a bit. Though maybe that's a bit of my influence."

"The psychic bees - the aura - they can be very big and cute when I am at my happiest. Fat and fluffy."