The Slayer had noticed that while the girls were busy, they were getting exhausted. They could handle some things better than humans, but they weren't gods. Or him. So he decided on what he'd do. He looked up various places, events, and more, on his computer. One at a time, might be best. They might open up more that way. He manages to find a few spots that seem promising, now wondering who should be first.
Beelzebub was going over designs for the vim reactor prototype. Sure, it would work, and create a lot of energy which would be useful. But it also generated a lot of exotic waste, which itself was dangerous, and its effects on matter not fully understood. Even containing it would be problematic. She was so absorbed in her work, she didn't notice the Slayer head inside. "You clearly need to get out some. Clear your head," he says, looking over at her work. "And I found just the place, that I think you might like. It's one of the memorial gardens that people have been planting."
"A flower field? And why would that...oh, it's because I'm a fly, isn't it?" He nods a bit with a smile. "Well, let me put on something casual. Any...requests?" She asks.
"Actually...is there a way to prevent us from being noticed? Not invisible, but more like unnoticed? So anyone that knows who you are...wouldn't recognize you?" He asks.
She ponders for a bit, then realizes what he's really asking. "Oh, I get it. Celebrity status and all that? You'd rather us not get harassed by everyone?"
"Exactly. Otherwise, you'd get attention you don't want. And then I would get similar attention." He says with an unreadable emotion.
"I know just what I can do. A bit of demonic magic, and the eyes slide right off of me. Well, for the weak-willed, at least," she says, already starting to wave her hands as if casting a spell. "Strong-wills might think something is up. And of course naturally..." she glances at the Slayer, a smirk on her face. "The most strong-willed would be immune." She then ushers him out, so she can change into something more fitting for such a date.
They were now in the garden, sitting on a bench, having arrived discreetly via a portal where nobody could see. None gave them anything but a quick glance, and if they did, they wouldn't have registered Beelzebub's horns, nor her hair, white despite her apparent age. They might have noticed the red summer dress she had on, or the straw summer hat. But her magic was keeping them from noticing too much, though many of the men did seem to stare for a bit longer than normal. The Slayer on the other hand was in a pair of blue jean cargo shorts and a gray t-shirt with nothing on it, as well as what appears to be a smart watch. "I get it now, fully," Beel says as she looks around. "Sure, the guys seem to notice the dress, but they're not completely staring. And it's nice to see some of the fruits of our efforts."
"Trust me, celebrities can get too much attention, on any Earth. And we...WAY over qualify for that." he chuckles. "Unfortunate that I couldn't fully leave the Slayer behind," he says, looking at his watch. "A unique little invention of mine, with some help courtesy of VEGA. He and Hayden can both talk to me through this. And some of the lighter weapons can even be summoned through it," he explains, while Beel's eyes go wide.
"You made that yourself? I thought..."
"You thought I was some brute?" The Slayer says with a small laugh. "That all I know is death, with no other redeeming factors? Nonsense. I'd never have been able to work my way around every touch screen, panel, keycard, door, and more, that I've ever come across. I wouldn't know how half my weapons work. You think plasma is easy to make? It's not. I was originally trying for a good university, back in the day. Something scientific, maybe physics or something. But it was expensive. Too expensive at the time."
Beel listens to his story, surprised so far. When he had paused, she thought about it, then had a revelation. "So, your plan was to have the military pay your way through college?"
"That was the plan. Join up, go through boot camp, do a few tours, get my way into any college I wanted, and I should be set for life. But...things changed."
"That they did," Beel says, as she looks out over the flowers. "This is nice, to be out here. But also solemn, knowing why these are here."
"But it comes with another advantage, to be out here. Out here, the Slayer's burden doesn't fully exist," he says, looking at his watch. "Out here, Blazin' Bill can find himself again."
She was confused a bit, by his statement, only to fully realize what it is he had said, without fully saying it. "Wait, you're telling me your name is—"
"William Joseph Blazkowicz III, known as Blazin' Bill to my old squad. A nickname given by a friend I had made in boot camp, and we did our first few tours together," he says with a growing smile. "Another fly actually. That was his nickname at least. Because it was short for Flynn. Flynn Taggart. I've used his name as a computer password."
"And...THIS is really what you don't want to get out. You don't want people knowing who you really are. To them...the Slayer is a god," she says, choosing her words carefully, so as not to give things away. "No relation at all to you B-B-Bill," she stammers. It just seemed so wrong to use his name like that, in such a casual manner.
"Yes. Because if Blazin' Bill is to thrive, to find himself again, he can't do that if he's reminded constantly of the burden the Slayer carries," he says, a grave look on his face. She could tell what he meant. Being the Slayer weighed heavily upon him. Not so heavy he he couldn't bear it. But heavy, nonetheless. She felt a pang of sympathy for him just then. He had become a version of the Greek Atlas, the weight of the world on his shoulders. And had become a god in the process. A burden that would crush most mortals, yet he could bear it, alone. But he could use support. She wanted to hug him right then and there. And so she did.
He returned the hug, smiling as he did so, tightly, but not too tightly. "So I have to ask," Beel asks, after breaking free. "But 3? 3 generations of your family, all with the same name?"
"Yes and no. It's skipped generations. It all began long ago, with a Polish immigrant that came to America, known in his day, as B. J. Blazkowicz. He went on to fight the Nazis in WWII, and had quite the adventure doing so. But our version of WWII was much different than this Earth's version. Hitler was never in a mech suit," he chuckles. "Then he settled down in Minnesota, raised a family, enjoyed his retirement. His grandson was B. J. Junior, also known by 2 other names. Billy Blaze, and Commander Keen. According to the stories, he dealt with aliens, all with the help of his pogo stick. And all while still a kid, according to what he told me. And yes, I'm his grandson. The pedigree of heroism...did contribute to the idea of joining the military."
"As well as who you turned out to be. I get the Nazis. But aliens?" Beel asks with a raised eyebrow.
"I don't know much myself. And it's not like records fully exist," he says. "But anyway, to shift gears, what was Hell like? Way back before...?"
"Before my exile? Well, some would say it was nice, but that's relative. We had our collection of souls we harvested. We did raid some worlds, but not too many. No all out attacks. More like, a few souls plucked here and there, but always in the dark, in the shadows. We taught mortals to fear their dark places, to huddle around their fires, to stay in groups. For me, that was enough. Not for Lucifer though. She got greedy. She wanted more. She wanted full on attacks. To pull entire worlds into Hell. I argued against it. I knew that such actions would result in things we wouldn't want. One, too many innocent souls, lost. True, we didn't always care about that. But a mass slaughter...didn't sit well with me. And I'm a fly. But second, a feeling in my gut told me the day would come, when we'd bite off more than we can chew. When some mortals would decide to return the favor. You love to tell yourselves stories about good gathering together to fight evil. And the day would come when some mortals would want to beat us back. I argued with Lucifer over this. Eventually, I even tried to stop her, but she made Justice fight me. And Justice packs a mean punch. And while I was down, Lucifer banished me to the Abyss. And then her reign of terror began. For about 50,000 years Hell consumed worlds, and souls, all without pity, or mercy. Why 50,000? Because it was about that time she invaded the wrong world. Yours." Beel says, looking at the Slayer.
"And the rest is history," he says.
"Very much so. I mean, they based their calendar after when you came to them. Maybe those who say you're the Second Coming are correct, in a way. You both have calendars based on you. Among other things." Beel says with a chuckle.
He sighs, looking distant. "Personally, I doubt I'm the Second Coming. We're too different. He is famous for healing, and miracles. I...I don't heal. I hurt. A lot. We couldn't be any different if we tried. Though I do understand why they'd think so. After all, they pretty much suffered an apocalypse, and I was the one who saved them. But with all I know, all I've seen, it's hard to believe."
"True. I mean, multiple Earths? Urdak? I can understand doubt. Especially with your role in all this. At this rate, let's be honest, you'll likely kill any capital G Gods out there." Beel says. "And it's different for me. I wasn't there for the last 40,000 years or so. I haven't known you in the way the others have. But I will say, in our fight you packed a PUNCH. I thought I hurt after Justice. But you...with the amount of shotgun shells and bullets you must have put in me, rockets and plasma too, as well as that BFG, I'd rather take Justice again. No wonder all of Hell fears you. No wonder you turned Lucifer, who was the most evil person I knew, willing to pull entire worlds into Hell, into someone that wants to suck up to you, and if anything, declare you King of Hell, if she got to continue being Queen. Good job on sparing her. She'll be useful."
They kept talking for a bit, but noticed the sun getting low. "We should head back. It was nice, to get out of there. Not exactly such a thing as open sky there." Beel says as they make their way somewhere private, and through a waiting portal. "Thanks for the date."
"You're welcome," the Slayer says as they head back, going separate ways.
Beel gets confronted on her way to her tower by some of the girls. "So, how'd it go?" Lucifer asks.
"Nice and relaxing. Bill and I got plenty of chances to talk," she says, and things go silent. Pin drop silent.
"Wait, you're telling me..." Justice says, until Beel finishes. "William Joseph Blazkowicz III."
"Blazkowicz...that name sounds familiar. I think I've read about some of them, from this Earth," Pandemonica says, with all eyes turning towards her. "But I forget where. I'll have to double check things, but I can assure you all, there are, or at least were, Blazkowicz's here, on this Earth."