Bishop’s eyes snapped open as the message relayed through his comms. When the handler finished talking and John’s comms turned off, he smiled to himself. The silken path that was to direct them to the Saint Michael’s church was flickering back and forth before it processed his location and the path disappeared. With the recent “troubles” in this time of crisis, many people had flooded to the church with the intent of prayer and shelter. John had picked this location to spend the night on account that he would blend in with the populus, no one would really have a problem with a man in a heavy coat carrying a pack of supplies with a duffel bag slung over the top. Not when he fit right in with the rest of those sleeping on the floor around him.
John’s gaze swept the room from his current position against a wall, taking in his surroundings. It appeared that in the night more people had arrived in seek of a place to stay as the walls. The people around him were still asleep and Bishop wondered how they could slumber so easily surrounded by so many strangers. John’s sleep had not been as it should, the spot on the floor where he had chosen commanded a good view of the room, but the stone floor of the vestry was filled with the forms of the sleepers, but it was anything but comfortable.
Once he determined there was no noticeable threat to his person, John allowed his body to slowly move. His joints were frozen, but his movements were slow and steady. He wanted to regain full ranges of motion before he would remove himself from the crowded room and attend the coming sermon. When he was satisfied with his joints functions, the man stood silently. His bags were up on his shoulders as quietly as the movements would permit him. The weight of his 1911 resting in its shoulder holster reminded him yet again of the new world they had entered. Things would definitely be different from now on, there was no doubt about that.
Free of the mostly waking forms behind him, John turned the corner from the vestry where the holy man had directed him the night before. Bishop had had no idea that this would be the rendezvous point, but who was he to complain. He didn’t have to travel through the weather, that he could only assume had gotten worse from last night, like the rest of his new squad members would have to.
Passing the Holy man that had allowed him entrance to the church, Bishop gave his thanks before entering the main chapel hall. Already many were gathered in the pews and standing along the sides of the room. Bishop joined a few men standing against the wall where he waited for the sermon to begin.
When the sermon finally began, John took the time to watch the room and keep half an ear on the message of the priest. He tried to pick out who in the room was going to be part of his new squad, but there was such a large diverse number of people gathered, it was all he could do to narrow the number down.
At the end of the sermon, John waited a few moments before he began to make his way over to the Altar. As he approached, he noticed most of the people he had pegged as possible agents approach the Altar as well. Shit had hit the fan, that much was clear to John, but what made him ponder the most was what they were going to be doing now that they were together.