Behind the Bravery : Unveiling Heroic Spirits

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Behind the Bravery: Unveiling Heroic Spirits

Darius’ heart pounded in his chest, his body buzzing with electricity and anticipation as he weaved through the throngs of people, his skin brushing against theirs as he navigated the crowds. The scent of blooming flowers filled the air as his feet raced down the gold cobblestone street. He could feel the fabric of his clothes rubbing against his skin as he bounced and ran, the cool breeze brushing against his face.

He scanned the plaza, looking for a seat with a magnificent view. A smile lit up his face as he realized he was still thinking in Earthly terms. This was Heaven. There was no need to rush, no need to worry about finding a good seat. Somehow, he always arrived on time and found that every single seat was perfect. He sat down in the chair nearest to him. It was off to the left side, quite a way from the stage, and a few trees stood between the chair and the raised platform. As he sat down and took a contented breath. “Perfect! Front row center, like always.” He said.

Darius’ eyes were fixed intently on the backstage curtain, waiting for when Wally Cronkyte and Duke would make their grand entrance. The crowd burst into raucous cheering as Duke sauntered onto the stage, his confident strides commanding attention. Wally gracefully sank into an oversized armchair, while Duke sprawled on the nearby couch with a nonchalant air. A complex web of microphones hung from a towering metal scaffolding, capturing every sound that would emerge from the duo’s lips. Cameras surrounded them from all angles, capturing every expression and movement with precision. As Wally took a deep breath and surveyed the sea of faces before him, he felt a surge of excitement. In a moment, they would be live on every screen in Heaven, and all eyes would be on them. He nodded at someone off to his right and flashed a charming smile towards the crowd.

“Hello everyone, this is Wally Cronkite coming to you live from the Red Jasper outdoor studio in the heart of the Tree of Life Plaza. Brace yourselves for a groundbreaking new series that will have you on the edge of your seats. We proudly present ‘Behind the Bravery: Unveiling Heroic Spirits,’ where we dig deep into the souls of Earth’s greatest heroes. In this series, we won’t be confined to highlight reels on our screens. These valiant individuals will join us each week as we unlock the secrets behind their courage and unravel the true depths of their heroism. Prepare for an intense journey as we delve into their darkest moments and unmask the driving force behind their unwavering determination.”

“Sitting with me is a legend, a hero whose name echoes through the halls of Heaven and Hell alike. His sacrifice, witnessed by billions, continues to be replayed and revered as the ultimate act of heroism. With over fifty assignments as a Knight’s companion, he surpasses all others with his unparalleled skill and bravery. He is the only one who has ever been assigned to two Knights at the same time, and as you all know, the only one that walked right through the very gates of Hell. And here he sits now to share the stories that testify to his unwavering courage.”

“I present to you all, Duke! The mightiest of all the Trinitarian Knight’s companions.”

Darius was met with a deafening roar of applause as he and millions of people in the crowd jumped to their feet, their hands clapping in unison. From his spot on the couch, Duke wagged his tail enthusiastically and raised one paw in a friendly wave. The sound of the cheers and shouts that filled the air created an electric atmosphere that reverberated throughout the plaza.

“We love you, Duke!” a random voice yelled.

“I love you too!” Duke replied as the cheers erupted even more.

Wally’s smile stretched from ear to ear as he gazed upon the jubilation erupting from the crowd. He knew he had chosen the perfect first guest to kick off his new series. He lifted his hand and gestured in a bouncing motion, attempting to calm the exuberant cheers echoing all around him. Gradually, the cacophony of excitement died down, and a hush settled over the mesmerized onlookers.

“Well, Duke, I was right. You certainly need no introduction. Your exploits in Hell are known by all.”

“Thanks, Wally. I am very humbled by this reaction. However, to be honest, I didn’t really do anything that special. Any other Knight’s companion would have done exactly the same thing. Bravery and courage are part of the code that we do our best to live up to each and every day. I am sure every companion before me would have walked through those gates as I did,” Duke said.

“You may try to hide it with your modesty, but I can sense the fire burning within you at the mere mention of those gates. But we can get back to Hell in a moment. First, let’s turn back time and delve into the events leading up to your fateful battle. I’ve studied the footage extensively and certain pivotal moments intrigue me greatly. However, before we dive into those details, let’s clarify something – what does it truly mean to be a Trinitarian Knights companion? Our audience may not fully grasp the weight of this title. Can you enlighten us?”

“A Knight’s companion is really just another Trinitarian Knight, Wally. I am an angel, just like all the other angels that God created. We have Michael leading the Trinitarian Knights here in Heaven. Then we have a David and Sarah down on Earth who are human Trinitarian Knights. A Knight’s companion is an angel in animal form, normally a dog, but once I was a tiger, which was actually a lot of fun.”

“A tiger? Wow, I didn’t see that in the footage I watched.”

“You would have to dig deep in the archives to find that footage. That was nearly fifteen hundred years ago. Anyway, the companions offer a unique skill set that differs from our human partners, not only in fighting, but also in how we discern the presence of demons. It allows the angels to have a constant presence with them and allows instant communication from myself to Michael if necessary.”

“Ah, so if needed, you can call for the calvary so to speak.”

“Not really. If a David or Sarah needs help, they have to ask. I can’t ask for them. I can keep Michael updated on what’s happening when he is busy elsewhere, but he can’t intervene at my request.”

“So why an animal? Why not just go down there as an angel or in human form?” asked Wally.

“Humans are a curious species, and Earth is a complex place. Having an animal companion is widely accepted in most cultures, making it a convenient cover for questions a Knight may face.”

“I see your point, but there’s one thing that confuses me. You said you’re an angel and you take the form of an animal when you visit Earth as a companion. So now that you’re back in Heaven, shouldn’t you return to your angelic form?”

“Actually, normally I would be, but right now, things aren’t so normal.”

“That sounds quite ominous. What is not normal now than that is keeping you in dog form?”

“Well, after a companion goes to Earth and serves a Knight, we come back here, and a different companion goes down in our place. Michael is in charge of assigning companions to Knights and he works on a rotation system.” Duke said.

“So, shouldn’t you be rotating out?”

Duke chuckled. “Funny, Michael said the same thing. He wanted me back in the ranks with the other Trinitarian battle angels. But I decided to go back to Earth again.”

“You decided? Is that allowed?” Wally asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Of course not.” Duke smiled. “But Wally, sometimes you have to do the right thing, no matter the cost. For me, the right thing is to be back next to David and Sarah. They are my Knights and their fight is far from over.”

“Interesting. Why do you think their fight isn’t over yet? Satan took Sarah, and David, marched right into Hell with you at his side, and took her back. That seems like a pretty good finale to the story to me. And now, they seem so calm and peaceful being back together.” Wally looked over at one of the techs. “Can we get a shot of David and Sarah on the big screen?”

The giant screen loomed above Wally and Duke, projecting the scene of David and Sarah’s living room in vivid detail. Sarah’s head rested on David’s shoulder as she beamed with joy, while Grampa Joe and Emma sat in chairs beside them, their laughter echoing through the room. Tommy was reenacting his legendary water balloon throw that had struck the demon Saraphiss right in the face. With a fierce pitching motion, he hurled a mock “holy water” balloon towards the window, just like in the actual fight.

Duke laughed. “That’s my boy. Tommy has the most amazing arm I have ever seen.”

“But Duke, they sure don’t appear to need a companion right now. Why are you going back?”

“Wally, Satan doesn’t take vacations, and he doesn’t lose well. He will strike back and he will strike back hard. Yes, we escaped from Hell and we gave him some bruises he won’t forget soon, but we didn’t beat him. I promise you, what you saw in Hell on the screens here was only round one of a long fight.”

“Surely, all the Knights are trained and ready to go. I guess, Duke, I still do not understand why it has to be you.”

“It doesn’t have to be me; I need it to be me. I failed them once.” A tear formed in Duke’s eye and he took a moment to compose himself. “I let Sarah get taken. I failed her, and I failed David.” He paused and scanned the crowd. “Their fight is just beginning. Going to Hell and fighting Satan may seem like the pinnacle, and while I don’t know what’s next, I know their story doesn’t end now. I know Satan will not stop. To be honest, Wally. The fight in Hell all seemed a little bit easy to me.”

“Easy? You were outnumbered by about a billion to one. It was a battle of epic proportions and it cost you your life. I know you remember all that, as it was just two weeks ago. How can you say it was easy?”

“We were in Hell.” Duke paused to let those words sink in. “No matter how many reinforcements Michael brought, we shouldn’t have been able to escape. Satan still had us outnumbered, as you said, a billion to one, and he had the home-court advantage where his forces couldn’t even be hurt for more than mere moments. And somehow, we escaped? No, Wally, there is another chapter to this story. I don’t know what it is, but I intend to stand next to David and Sarah as it unfolds. They are the most noble Knights I have ever served and standing by them is the right thing to do. When Satan makes his move, I intend to be right by their sides where I belong.”

“I understand now why Michael is letting you go back. It is as if your passion is compounding your bravery. I suspect you didn’t really give him much of a choice.” Wally smiled as the crowd laughed.

“Duke, you said David and Sarah are the most noble Knights you have ever served. Yet, I saw a lot of footage where the word nobility is not one I would use to describe David. Talk to us a bit about David and the Tequila.”

Duke looked down and shook his head slowly. “I let them down. I failed them. The pain I caused David was unbearable for him and he found refuge where he could. It certainly isn’t my place to judge him for that.”

“Surely, Duke, you aren’t condoning his behavior? He was effectively drunk for years.”

“Condoning? Of course not. Understanding, yes. Wally, you were human, and it wasn’t even that long ago for you. You understand the difference between Heaven and Earth. Angels that haven’t spent time with humans on Earth cannot comprehend it in the slightest. Angels don’t understand the struggle humans face daily. Their strength is truly amazing when you understand what they go through.”

“But don’t you think David could have found a better coping mechanism than alcohol?”

“I don’t think it is my place to speculate about that. It was my responsibility to protect Sarah. It was David and Sarah’s responsibility to protect each other. David and I both failed in that regard. David’s loss was incredible. Many humans would have given up and actually ended their lives.” Duke shook his head. “That’s probably the saddest thing that happens on Earth. Yet David survived long enough to regain his strength and set things right. Together, we found our redemption.”

Wally nodded. “You’re right, of course. It is not our place to judge. Every human chooses each day how they will face their challenges, and there is no question that every one of us probably chose wrong as often as we chose right.”

“Yes, that sums it up well. David came through a level of pain that the vast majority of humans never experience. It is not right for us to judge him or anyone else for how they deal with their pain, since none of us can truly understand their pain.” Duke added.

“So, Duke, during the tequila period, what really stands out in your memories?”

Duke’s eyes glistened with a raw intensity as the memories of the tequila days took center stage in his mind. He looked thoughtfully at Wally and then scanned the crowd. “Well. . . the smell. No question about it, the smell is something I will never be able to get out of my mind.”

“The smell? That is not one I had written down as a possible answer.” Wally laughs. “By smell, what exactly are you referring to?”

“All of them. The alley, the house, the tequila, and . . .” Duke paused, “David. Do you have any idea what a man who has spent three years drinking tequila in an alley smells like? I am an angel, but when I am in dog form, I have all the characteristics of a dog. And let me tell you, these dog noses really work and it’s not always pleasant. The garbage in the dumpsters, the essence of old tequila wafting through the air, the lack of a bathroom . . .” Duke shook his head. “That alley actually smelled worse than Hell did when we were there.”

“Worse than Hell . . . Wow! . . I think I am happy I never experienced either of those smells.”

“But it was the house as well. If I didn’t push David out of bed, he wouldn’t shower. And not to throw David under the proverbial bus, but I don’t think those showers ever included a bar of soap. His clothes seldom got cleaned–in fact, they smelled just like the alley. Let me tell you, Wally, I was really missing Sarah during that time for so many reasons.” Duke said.

Wally shook his head. “It sounds quite disgusting.”

“Now, you brought up missing Sarah. I don’t think everyone here really understands that. Angels really don’t feel loss the way humans do and many humans don’t feel loss the way I suspect you and David did. Tell us about that as best as you can.”

Duke’s gaze wandered aimlessly, his emotions in turmoil. Glossy eyes betrayed the depth of his inner struggle. He looked around at the hushed crowd, feeling both comforted and overwhelmed by their presence. He couldn’t bring himself to meet Wally’s eyes as he tried to explain. “It’s hard to put into words,” Duke began, his voice heavy with conflict. “As a dog, my loyalty to my human is unwavering. It’s an instinct we are born with – protect and serve. As a Knight, I am bound by duty, honor, and loyalty to my Knights. And when we fight side by side with our fellow Knights, that sense of loyalty forms an unbreakable bond. But there’s also love…and that complicates everything.”

Duke’s words caught in his throat as he tried to explain the turmoil that had been stirring inside him. The crowd held their breath, waiting for him to continue. “Losing Sarah was a blow to both David and I, like a hurricane tearing through our hearts. We were supposed to be Knights, devoted and loyal, yet we couldn’t protect what we held most dear. We failed in our duty.” Duke’s voice quivered as he recalled the pain. “But then another emotion crept in, one that I know David felt too…guilt. To realize that it was all our fault, that we could have prevented it if only we had been strong enough, fast enough, smart enough…” Duke’s words trailed off as he struggled to contain the conflicting emotions within him.

“Wally, I let them down. I lost Sarah, I failed in my duty, I didn’t serve with the honor and loyalty I was trained to. Guilt is a strange emotion that, as an angel, I had no preparation for feeling. It is devastating. David’s loss was overwhelming. I think with David feeling like it was his fault, guilt drove him to the bottle.”

“Duke, my friend,” Wally said, holding back his own emotion. “Surely you know now that it wasn’t your fault, and that you did everything you could to save Sarah.”

“No, I don’t believe that. David told me to protect her. I failed. I fought side by side with her and survived when she was taken. I failed in that battle. Sarah was lost because of me. For a Knight, there are no excuses. Sarah’s loss was my fault.”

“Duke, sometimes heroes fail. That doesn’t make them any less heroic.”

“Hero? I am a Knight, I am not a hero. I do what I have been trained to do. I have been endowed with skills to help me carry out my assignments. There is nothing heroic about that. If you really want to know who the actual heroes are, look no further than Tommy, Grandpa Joe, Emma, and Father Mark. They are the true heroes. They stood firm before the best Satan could throw at them. They had no special training, no supernatural endowed skills. They stood firm with nothing but faith and pure hearts.” Duke looked straight at Wally. “They, and millions of other humans every day, do the right thing even when the cost is high, and no one is looking. Those people are genuine heroes.”

The crowd erupted with cheers.

“Well, I know I can’t argue with that. Funny, but I think the more you talk about the whys of what you do, and the more you steer away from the word hero, the more heroic you actually become.”

“Now Duke, take us inside to a few of the battles we didn’t see much of. One in particular I am quite excited to know more about. When David had to head off to Europe without you, he faced a harrowing battle on the steps of a church. We saw that one here on our screens. You, however, were left to protect a houseful of regular humans and faced quite a battle of your own. We saw some highlights of it, but I don’t think they tell us the entire story of what went on in that house. Tell us about that.”

“By regular humans, I am sure you meant to say heroes.” Duke smiled as he spoke. “Tommy, Emma, Grandpa Joe, and Father Mark are some of the finest humans I have ever met. Most humans have no vision of the spiritual dimension. Most will never see a demon, even if it is standing right next to them. But that group didn’t just see them, they sought them out. My bravery pales compared to what they did, not out of honor or loyalty or duty, but out of love for each other. As for the battle, that was fun. Yet, I am not sure that we can say bravery won that battle. The credit for that one all goes to little Tommy. He had the idea about the ‘holy water’ water balloons.” Duke laughed for a moment. “And boy, did that catch the demons off guard. The look on Saraphiss’ face when the entire house started lighting up with red flashes was priceless.

“And if you want to talk about bravery, when Father Mark disappeared, I was quite worried. One minute I was tearing off a demon leg and enjoying the feel of demon ooze running down my jowls. Then I scanned the room to check on everyone and the father was nowhere to be found. I had a moment of panic before I heard him in the kitchen. When I turned to head there, the red flashes coming from within were like a strobe light and there was a stream of water coming out the door on the floor. I took a giant leap in that direction and when my feet hit the water on the hallway floor. . . well, let’s just say I didn’t exactly stick the landing.

“I still did not know what was going on. I jumped up and got to the doorway.” Duke shook his head with a smile on his face.

“Well, don’t stop now. Tell us what you saw.” Wally was on the edge of his chair.

“Father Mark was standing at the kitchen sink. He had the squirter in his hands, his eyes were closed, and he was waving that squirter everywhere around him. By this point, the demons were all gone, but he had no idea. He was still squirting that water as if his life depended on it.”

Wally and the crowd broke out into more laughter.

“I went over and nudged him and eventually he peeked with one eye to see. When he saw me and no more demons, he lowered his hand, but he forgot to take his finger off the trigger. He soaked my face with water.” Duke said, as Wally and the crowd erupted in laughter. “But Wally, that was real bravery. Some people think bravery means you aren’t scared. The truth is that bravery is overcoming your fear. There is no bravery without fear, and the bravest of all is the one who pushed through the most fear. Poor Father Mark was scared to death, but he fought through that fear and dispatched countless demons. That is one of the finest examples of bravery I have ever witnessed.”

“Wow, I wish we had that moment for our highlight reels. Was that when the battle ended?”

“Pretty much. Mark killed the last of the demons in the house, but Tommy still had some unfinished business. I came out of the kitchen looking for that demon leg I had. I have developed quite a taste for demon flesh and I have always preferred dark meat. Unfortunately, the leg had flashed away. All was quiet. Tommy was standing right in front of where the big glass window had been, tossing a large water balloon in his hand. Then I saw Saraphiss standing on the sidewalk. The two of them had locked eyes.

“David and I used to watch what humans call ‘spaghetti westerns’ together between our adventures. Now that I think of it, I have no idea why they call them spaghetti westerns. Anyway, the way Tommy and Saraphiss were standing looked just like a scene out of one of those movies. You could almost hear the eerie music playing in the background. Then Tommy yelled, ‘This one’s for you!’ and he let his water balloon fly. Saraphiss had no idea what was going on. He didn’t know that the water balloon was filled with holy water until it smacked him right in the face. Then, boy, did he scream as he flashed away.” Duke laughed. “That moment was almost as priceless as when Tommy took out the demon behind the church. He threw that rock and tore the head right off. You would have thought that Saraphiss would have learned a bit from that, but he sure didn’t.”

“Ah, so the battle behind the church was a bigger moment for you?”

“Not a bigger moment. With David there and only a few demons, the outcome of that battle was never in question. The battle at the house was much larger. However, behind the church, we did not know what Tommy was capable of. He let that rock fly and the demon flashed away as his head was torn off. Then the rock embedded itself in the wall. David’s chin about hit the ground and his expression was priceless. You know, Wally. That rock is still embedded in the church’s wall.”

“Maybe we should take up a special collection so that Father Mark can buy a plaque to put on it.” Wally laughs.

“That’s a great idea, but I bet we can just get Michael to engrave it with one of his wing tips next time he is down there,” Duke said with a wink.

“Duke, let me change the topic, if I may. As humans on Earth, we experience fear in many ways. Certainly, for us, being in battles would carry with it a sense of fear. As you face your job as a Trinitarian Knight’s companion, do you experience fear?”

Duke raised an eyebrow at the question. “Well, I don’t think I experience fear in the sense you are talking. Certainly, I am not afraid of demons, injuries, or losing a battle. I get wounded all the time and demon claws are quite sharp. I feel that pain as a dog would, not as an angel. However, that pain comes with the territory and is not something I fear. However, I suppose I do feel a form of fear. I fear not doing my job. I fear I might fail to protect my Knight when they need my help.” Duke paused as an unshed tear glistened in his eye. “It happened once, and I certainly fear I could fail again. Yet, I channel that fear into my determination to win every battle I walk into.”

Wally nodded. “Well said. I think we can all understand fear like that.” A small round of applause rose in the crowd.

“Duke, we were talking about the heroic people in your life with David. However, recently, you had a person in your Knight’s lives that you didn’t trust.”

Duke nodded his head.

“In fact, that person is here in our audience. Let’s bring him down. Darius! Please come join us.” Wally waved Darius down from his seat to the stage.

Darius rose and walked down to the stage. He shook Wally’s hand and then sat down on the couch next to Duke. “Thanks for having me down, Wally, but I still don’t feel like I am worthy to even sit next to Duke.”

“Don’t be silly, Darius,” Duke said. “We are all equal here.”

“Yes, I understand that, Duke. But just as you have powerful emotions about losing Sarah, I still have powerful feelings about my betrayal of you and David.” Darius said.

“That’s interesting.” Wally said. “I had intended to ask Duke about that and how he felt about it.”

“What Darius did was really nothing more than a failure in duty like mine. I hold him in the highest esteem now as, in the end, his honor came forth, and he did the right thing.” Duke said.

“What about the events leading up to Darius doing the right thing? In what I saw of you and Darius prior to that, it looked like you didn’t trust him.” Wally said.

“Absolutely. I sensed something was wrong with him and that he didn’t have David’s best interests in mind. However, I had no choice but to let things play out.”

“Why no choice?” Wally said.

“Darius is human. Trinitarian Knights aren’t allowed to harm humans. If he had attacked David, I could have defended David, but even then, I would have to use as little force as possible. He was only deceiving David, and that was something I had no way to interfere with. Besides, it was really nothing more than a gut feeling.” Duke said.

“Honestly, I am not sure that David fully trusted me, either,” Darius said.

“I think you’re right. I think he kept you close to him for a reason.” Duke said. “But I don’t think he ever doubted that you had a piece in the saga to play.”

“And David certainly always treated me better than I deserved, even at the end,” Darius said.

“Darius, what can you add about Duke? From your perspective, as someone who was there, is this companion the hero we believe he is?”

“Well, Wally, I wasn’t around for many of those battles that you guys have talked about. I saw Duke in action only for a few times in Hell before I, well, you know. What I can say for sure is that David thinks the world of him. David is a man of integrity and I suspect his opinion on this matter is the most important one. I am pretty sure David thinks Duke is quite the hero. Although, I don’t actually think David realizes Duke is an angel.”

Duke laughed. “Well, everyone has always said that Sarah is the brains of that duo.”

“Duke, I have one more question for you before you tell us what Hell was like,” Wally said.

“And did you save the best for last?” Darius said.

“I am not sure if it is the best, but I suspect it will stir strong emotions in our heroic friend here. Duke, talk to us about Hell Hounds. I know you went to Hell to save Sarah, but there definitely seemed to be some unfinished business between you and Satan’s pets.”

Duke’s jowls trembled uncontrollably as a shiver of anger ran down his spine at the mention of Hell Hounds. “I despise those hellish beasts with every fiber of my being,” he growled through gritted teeth, his eyes blazing with deep-seated hatred.

Wally leaned back in his chair, shocked by Duke’s reaction. “I see I got the strong emotions part correct. Do you hate them more than demons?”

Duke’s eyes glinted with a dark intensity as he spoke. “Demons were once pure and good angels. Some of them, dare I say, were my friends. But Hell Hounds are Satan’s twisted creations formed from darkness and pure malice. They were created solely to serve Satan and spread his wickedness.” Duke could feel his stomach churning. “They are the embodiment of pure evil, with no trace of goodness within them. Demon thigh at least tastes good. Hell Hounds leave a rancid taste that lingers on one’s tongue for days after you eat them.” He shuddered at the memory of their foul taste. “I suppose, though, there is some sick pleasure, that despite how repulsive it is, I know it is Hell Hound ooze that leaves that putrid flavor behind.”

In a sudden burst of light, the stage was illuminated with a blinding flash of white. As if conjured from thin air, two figures materialized – the Archangels Gabriel and Michael. Their presence was commanding and powerful as they stood on the stage. The vibrant glow of their wings shimmered in the spotlights.

“Time to go, Duke.” Gabriel said. “It’s time to reintroduce yourself to David.”

“Wait, I am confused. Why would Duke have to reintroduce himself?” Wally asked.

Michael smiled. “We can’t exactly send him back as an old dog.” Before the crowd, Duke transformed from a full-grown massive Saint Bernard into a tiny fuzzy puppy.

Michael picked up the puppy. “Let’s go Duke. Sarah just sent David to the grocery store and Lazarus is waiting.”

In a flash of white, Gabriel, Michael, and the puppy Duke disappeared.

Wally scanned the crowd. “It seems we will have to have Duke back next time he is here, so he can tell us all about Hell and the new adventures he is about to have.”

The crowd cheered.