The First Trial in Edison

The air in the basement hung thick and cloying, a stark contrast to the hallowed halls of the Church of the Halo Armor of Jesus Maverick had just departed. Dust motes danced in the lone shaft of light filtering from a grimy window high on one wall, illuminating the rough-hewn stone and damp earth that formed their new surroundings. James Trent Williams, his face a roadmap of countless years, gestured with a surprisingly steady hand. "My name is James Trent Williams, and this is my wife, Liz Bennett."

Liz offered a serene smile, her eyes, the color of warm honey, meeting Maverick’s with a quiet understanding that belied the chaos of their abrupt arrival. She wore no armor, no visible sign of the divine power that had enveloped Maverick and Merrick, yet an aura of calm strength emanated from her. Merrick, still reeling from the unexpected transformation and the sudden expulsion from the familiar sanctuary of the church, stood rigid, her jaw set. The blue luminescence that had briefly encased her had faded, leaving her in her everyday attire, but the shock remained etched on her features.

A sudden, sharp beam of light, impossibly bright and pure, erupted from the worn leather notebook still clutched in Maverick’s hand. It struck a plain wooden chest resting on a rickety shelf against the far wall. The wood seemed to absorb the light, to drink it in, before a faint tremor ran through it.