The next day, everyone slowly woke up. Or simply left the tent in the Slayer's case. Pandemonica was feeling grumpy, wanting to complain at first about the lack of coffee. At least until the Slayer showed her how to work the French press, which earned him a smile, a kiss, and a "You DO care!"
"How'd everyone sleep?" He asks, earning various positive responses. "And how about the newest member of the Fortress Family?" He asks as Judgement comes out of her tent, Marauder in tow.
"He's quite the cuddler," Judgement says with a yawn as said puppy heads into the bush, and squats. "And I thought it'd be Doom Family," she continues.
"A, assigning Doom to everything gets old. I'm not about to make Doom credit cards, Doomobiles, and Doomwings. I'm not Batman," he says with a chuckle. "And B? The alliteration It sounds better," he responds. Lucifer helps him cook breakfast, and Elie actually shows up to join them, a bag in hand. "I have a feeling it'd be more interesting to hang out with you then to just eat what's in the ranger station's fridge by myself." She holds up her bag. "Besides...I have a feeling someone else is hungry too," she continues, pulling out a bowl and some dog food. Marauder eats some, but reluctantly it seems, which surprises everyone.
"Why aren't you eating?" Judgement asks, even trying to hand feed him. Then Justice pipes up with an idea.
"The good boy's been used to eating the flesh of the Corrupted, right?" She asks, everyone present giving quizzical looks. "What's the one thing they have, that doesn't exist naturally on Earth? Argent," she finishes, finding one of the imp bones, which Marauder happily gnaws on.
"Likely needs Argent to live, or at least prefers food with it," Elie types into her phone. "It actually made me think last night, while trying to sleep. What's the likelihood he's an isolated case?" she asks, and everyone stops to think.
Malina pulls out her own phone, doing a search. "My guess? Not a chance. But..." she continues, as she looks through news articles. "It seems its a rumor. Many sightings of beasts with glowing eyes, but not the best pictures. Nothing actual confirmed so far. Marauder here...is in some ways, a cryptid," she says as she pets him.
"So, we have the first two confirmed cases," the Slayer responds. "Good to know. It would be unpleasant, but I think his mother should be bagged up. Find the right people, to do an autopsy," he says. "So she and Marauder can be the first—" His eyes light up. "That's it! They're compared to cryptids, as of right now, right?" He asks, Malina nodding, along with everyone else, with many raised eybrows. "Cryptids because of Argent. Argentids?" He suggests. "That could work as a name. I mean, after all, it's likely that there's more. Not just dogs and wolves. But...well, anything," he continues. "At this stage, we can't rule out anything. It can run, it can crawl, it can fly, it can swim. All are possibilities. But we need more intel," he explains.
"True true. But I'm hungry," Elie says with a laugh. "But here, you all go cook. I'll go bag up the mother wolf's body. It..won't be pleasant, so I'd rather do it when I don't have food in me," she says, and Cerberus goes with her to the station to help, while her other bodies locate the mother's body. They bag up the body while the rest cook, hauling it away and cleaning up after themselves.
After breakfast, everyone sits back satisfied. "I actually know where one of the research stations is located," Elie says. "They don't do much, but it is where they do keep track of some natural things, like animals, trees and such. They can help with Marauder and Momrauder. Or at least at first," she continues. "Sure, it's a drive. Let me go get the truck," she says, heading back to the ranger station.
"You all can go have fun nerding out over a dog," Zdrada says with a puff of smoke. "We all will head to the beach. Right ladies?" She asks, many of the rest nodding, as they head into tents to put on swimsuits. Elie arrives with her truck, body bag already in the back. Cerberus squeezes herselves into the cab with Elie, carrying Marauder with her, while Judgement and the Slayer all jump in the bed, as Elie drives off.
"This'll be interesting," Judgement says, clearly annoyed she couldn't ride in the cab. "We're discovering new species, in a way."
"True, true. And it seems we're already learning things. Like how he might need Argent sources to live. This will be a blessing and curse," the Slayer responds. "Blessing is they shouldn't truly overtake non-Argentids. Curse is...well, if the demons all die, what'll happen to them? Not truly here to stay if that's the case. Unless we find an alternate food source. My guess? Likely a synthetic, void matter based Argent," he continues. "But we'll learn more soon. In the meantime...I should get dressed." Judgement looks quizzically, until the Slayer taps the device on his wrist. The Praetor Suit appears around him, or rather one of them, his "informal" model, which was similar to his "work" model, but covered his arms. "So now I can present things, and be taken seriously. And my identity is hidden," he says, as they pull up to a larger building, and everyone gets out, Cerberus helping with the body bag. Elie leads them through a series of halls and into an examination room, where an older man awaits.
"Ranger Elie, look, I know about these rumors of animals with glowing eyes, but there's no proof," he says, looking bored. "So how is this different?" Elie responds by stepping out of the way, and Cerberus deposits the bag on the examination table. The man is astonished at their presence, before unzipping the bag, and examining the body. "How recent?"
"Last night," Cerberus responds. "Time of death...maybe 9 PM?" She guesses. "That's when we discovered her, and...dealt with the situation." The Slayer steps forward, the scientist's eyes going wide with fear, but understanding.
"Yes, yes," he says, as he looks at the body. "Female wolf, traces of Argent found in the body. This at least proves something," he says, calling over some colleagues, and they haul the bodybag away to another room. "If only there were more."
"Oh...there is. Judgement!" He orders, and she comes forward, Marauder in tow. Bespectacled human eyes grew wide as they met glowing canine eyes, and all his complaints fall to silence.
"What on Earth..." he says as he adjusts his glasses. With some urging, Marauder jumps into Judgement's arms, then she helps him onto the table. The scientist looks him over, excitedly calling his colleagues, all of whom fawn over Marauder.
"Now, here's a few things to know," the Slayer says, grabbing all their attention. "First off, he essentially sees Judgement as his mom now, so that is not changing," he says firmly, everyone nodding. "Second, no excess harm. Yes, I know he might need some of the regular things that you'd give an ordinary dog. Shots, bloodwork, and all that. But no excess harm," he continues, giving one of his trademark intense stares. "Also...his name is Marauder."
"He's adorable!" One of the female assistants says as they examine him, taking lots of pictures, as well as every internal scan they have equipment for. "What he really needs is somewhere more dedicated. Some zoos are great examples," one of them says. "Besides, if there's more like him...zoos will open entire sections dedicated to them, as well as their study."
"Argentid zoos," the Slayer says, earning some looks. "Hey, they're treated as cryptids, right? Argent fueled cryptids. Argentids. We already know one thing, in that it seems when possible, they'll prefer Argent-based food sources. Even if presented with food that otherwise would have all they would need," he says, everyone else backing him up.
"We'll want to see all the reports," Cerberus says. "Especially when other species of Argentids start to become confirmed. We expect mixed results," she adds. "Yes, some people? They will look at Argentids with awe. Some with fear. There will be some who want all Argentids hunted to extinction, all as 'affronts to nature.' Or God. Luckily..." she says this next part with a chuckle from all three of her bodies. "We happen to know people that can help protect them. Modeus can declare them sacred, and Lucifer can get the laws passed to protect them." Everyone present, smiles as well.
"It'll be really interesting when he grows," Judgement adds. "To see what he can do. Oh, but one thing you all can do, now. Have any of those chips? The kind to inject into an animal for tracking?" One of them nods, and they bring him into the back to do so.
"He took it well," they explain, holding the scanner over his back to prove it's there. "Did want to snap, but nothing we couldn't handle."
"I want the info," the Slayer says. "See, I'm pretty sure as he gets older, he'll get trained, and not just the normal stuff like sit and stay." Judgement nods at that with a grin. "I see an older Marauder as possibly being as good as a regular police dog. Or even better. And therefore...without me giving things away, I'll need his chip info, for later. So that both Judgement, AND Marauder..." he turns to them both with a slightly evil smile. "Can be better at what they'll do."
The scientists listen in awe, as they show him the details, all of which he makes mental notes of, able to upload that data to the Fortress's central server via his neural collar.
"But enough business. You all came here to have fun," Elie says with a smile. "And besides, I'm sure all the other girls are all at the beach, and missing you terribly." This earns some laughs, as they head out back to the truck, and she drives them to the campsite. The other girls had already left, and so everyone else heads into tents to change.
Azazel and Modeus were making a sand castle, while Pandemonica and Beelzebub were splashing about in the ocean. Justice and Lucifer were playing some beach volleyball, while Malina and Zdrada were sunning themselves, though with some distance between them. Everyone turned when Cerberus and Judgement came along, asking how things went. But everyone grew quiet once the Slayer walked onto the beach in swim trunks. "Primal fire, he's hot," Modeus says absent-mindedly, licking her lips, as they all saw every last muscle on him. Lucifer in particular was almost transfixed. On one hand, it made sense he'd be so muscled, considering what he could do. But even knowing that, she couldn't take her eyes off of him, as she eyed every muscle.
"What?" The Slayer asks, noticing all female eyes upon him, but then he looks down. "Oh, ok, I see how it is. Go on, get it out of your systems. And before anyone asks, yes, I was like this pre-Divinity Machine. Ok, maybe not as defined, but close enough."
"Why's everyone so quiet?" Justice asks, until she hears the Slayer. "Oh, OH!" She says, with finger guns. "Let me guess Lucy. He has muscles that could be chiseled from Hell's hardest stone?" She asks.
"Mmhmm," Lucifer says while nodding, still in awe. She wanted nothing more than to run over and touch, to get her hands all over his perfect body, until she mentally stopped herself. You're the former Queen of Hell, now his representative in his own Union. You're not some hormonal teenager.
"He's that good huh?" Justice says with a smirk. "Do you need to drag him somewhere private?" Lucifer blushes furiously, as Justice continues to tease and taunt. "You know you waaant him. You know you want to see what's under those trunks," Justice teases, until Lucifer shoves her to the ground. Justice responds by pulling Lucifer down with her, which earns some slaps, and the two fight for a bit, until the Slayer comes over to drag Lucifer away roughly, barking to calm down.
"That's enough you two," he says with but a hint of anger. "What was the issue?"
"Well Justice was teasing me about oggling you," Lucifer complains, trying to squirm out of his grip. Though in truth, she knew that there wasn't a prayer of that happening. And she may have actually enjoyed that, though she didn't want to admit it.
"Well, calm down you two," he says, still with a hint of anger in his eyes, but the girls could sense that it was only he that was angry, not the Beast. "Here...go pick up some trash, to make up for that," he orders, and the two girls groan.
Lucifer goes to move away, but feels lighter, wondering what the issue was, until she looked down. In the midst of the scuffle, Justice had pulled her top off of her, and she went even further red, covering her chest. "Justice, give it back!" She whines, which at first angered the Slayer, until he saw the problem, which calmed him right back down.
"What do you mean?" Justice asks, as Lucifer stomps towards her, one arm covering herself.
"WHERE'S MY TOP YOU IMP!" She shouts, which makes Justice lose most of her humor.
"Oh, well I tore it off, but..." Justice says, as Lucifer and the Slayer both search the beach. "There!" Slayer says, spotting it in the water, diving after it. But it was no use, the waves had already carried it out to sea.
Lucifer was bordering on miserable, upon seeing her bikini top get lost to the ocean, but the Slayer chuckles. Uh oh. He's going to make me do something perverted, isn't he? She thinks, though somewhere, in the depths of her mind, that was exactly what she wanted, even if she didn't want to admit that.
"Well, you two can still pick up trash. Lucy will just have to make sure nobody can see," the Slayer says with a chuckle. "Because if anyone is going to see how beautiful your breasts are Lucifer..." he says with a chuckle. "It's going to be me. And ONLY me, and the rest of you. No other male eyes." He finishes with a low growl, the kind that hints at the Beast within stirring. Lucifer responds by blushing even more furiously, but heads off to go pick up trash with Justice.
"Wow, is this your brand of sadism?" Pandemonica asks, coming up to the Slayer, watching Justice and Lucifer. "And by that, I mean you, not the Beast?"
"Perhaps so," he responds with a chuckle. "One part almost wanted to let it slide. But I think this is what happens if you're military. I mean...I still think in military time. It's nearly eleven hundred," he says checking his watch. "And before you ask, not eleven hundred hours. The hours is a myth from pop culture," he explains.
"Still, you should enjoy yourself. I mean...that IS what we're here for," she says with a chuckle as they rejoin the others, enjoying themselves on the beach for a few hours, including eating lunch, once Lucifer and Justice got back, and Lucifer got a tshirt. Though for the Slayer, that only seemed to add to her appeal.
"Interesting prospect, these Argentids," Beelzebub says, laying next to the Slayer as she sunbathes, letting lunch digest. "I can assure you the reactions will be more than just extinction hunting and protection. Depending on what types are out there? Some will be captured for zoos. Some...as exotic pets. Not that we can truly judge," she continues with a laugh. "And some? I could see being meat hunted. Or even pelt hunted. Ok...maybe poached is the correct term, considering the laws that will end up coming to pass," she says with a laugh.
"Hey, about the exotic pets thing...Marauder chose us. Or rather Judgement. Sure, I avenged his mom, but we didn't take him, per se. He came with us," the Slayer says, chuckling. "And we get to help dictate where things should go. Tagging a few wild specimens, and tracking them, observing them? It's always been fine. And always will be, and that's what we need more of. Information."
"'These new species of animals are among the most mysterious newcomers on Earth. And they seem super evolved, as far as we can tell.' I could almost hear that old guy from two centuries back now..." the Fly says, gazing off, as she daydreams about it.
"David Attenborough?" He asks, looking over at her. "Yes, he totally would want to tour the world, make a documentary all about argentids," the Slayer continues, but then sitting up. "But there's no reason it couldn't happen. And maybe should. A documentary, all about the argentids of Earth. It would open plenty of eyes. What's almost interesting is that according to the maps, no demons invaded Australia. Because I'm sure argentids would THRIVE there," he says with a laugh.
"I bet they would," Beelzebub laughs as well. "From what I've heard of that place, it seems to be an area where nature and humanity agreed, to dump all the worst of the worst. Or at least...if by humanity you mean the British Empire," she continues, smiling, but raises an eyebrow. "Honestly? I'm surprised that YOU aren't Australian."
"It's the only thing truly keeping me in check," the Slayer says with a chuckle. "If I was an Aussie, Hell would already be empty," he says with a laugh.
"Ah, it got me thinking," the Fly says, stretching out in the sun. "Sure, some universities are opening departments all on void matter. But one part of me was thinking...what about one of my own? It would have plenty of advantages. Built from the ground up, for the future. Dedicated pretty much solely to all things extradimensional. Void matter, Abyss, Urdak, Hell, Maykrs, demons...and yes, argentids would count. Wanting university to get a law degree, or business, or whatever liberal arts is? Other places can do that. My university would be pretty much just for the sciences. One size fits all for all the brightest minds," she says as she daydreams about it, with a few flourishes.
"That could work," the Slayer says, thinking about it. "But if you really want some success? Once the SUN Navy starts to become a thing, ships become a thing? The engineering to make those will be in high demand. As well as crews. It'll almost be like Starfleet, and you could make the Academy."
"Hmmm, that could work. Likely across a few campuses. It would take some doing, but it could work," Beelzebub responds, as they watch everyone else. At some point, even Elie checks on them, clearly trying to be professional, but everyone could tell what her main distraction was, as the Slayer felt yet another set of eyes boring into him. But he also caught the ranger checking out the only angel he knew as well, who also seemed to return the favor. Good for you Elie. Help Azzy get to know what she's missing, and what she wants to try out. He thinks.
They enjoyed themselves for hours on the beach, only heading back to the campsite when the sun set. They sat around the fire, enjoying themselves, drinking and talking, even with Elie joining them.
"You know...I look at you all, and I could believe," she says to them, smiling widely. "I could believe that things will get better. That you, Mr. Slayer, will improve the world. That my brother might recover, and it won't even cost us limbs and organs."
"Your brother?" Azazel asks, slightly tipsy, sitting close to Elie.
"Leukemia," Elie says, sadness crossing her face. "Has been in the hospital since before the demon invasion. Transfered underground during the invasion. Most we could afford was to barely keep him alive, but now...I hear there's some new treatment, that seems to kill cancer. And they're not asking us to pay. Is this a dream?" She asks them, wonder all over her face.
"No, just what happens when someone really high up, forces lower higher ups to care about the common civilian," the Slayer says, a smile crossing his face. "Medical care is a right, not a privlege for the rich. I WILL improve humanity. I've paid some of the price in blood," he says firmly, staring off into the distance. "And they likely haven't told you about this, because I've told them not to tell, but that's exactly what the treatment is," he says to a confused Elie. "If I told you I shed blood for your brother...in this case it's literal. And beyond the amoung I've shed for all mankind." He holds out his arm. "Within me, IS the treatment. With some tweaks and modifications, of course. So yeah...drink my blood, and you might live healthier," he says with a bit of a smile. "And no fancy cup is needed. So yeah, a bit like..the OTHER guy I get compared to."
Elie's eyes grew wide, upon hearing that. "Y-you...your own blood, cures cancer?" She asks in awe. "You really are a god...aren't you?"
"Honest answer? Maybe. Maybe not. If powers is the criteria...I don't know. I mean yes, I have some, but I can't make worlds. If the criteria to be a god is to bear the responsibility for an entire race on your shoulders, shield them from threats beyond their ability to handle...then I accept that burden. Saving my people may have made that burden worse, as Commander Valen once told me, but...I don't mind. I don't mind an entire planet, and beyond, putting their faith in me, their trust in me, and their belief, in me. I accept that," he says with a deep drink of his beer.
"I can believe it. With all you've done...all you're willing to do, my dad would've liked you. He was a medic during the invasion, helped save a lot of civilian lives," Elie says sadly. "Here's to you dad, wherever you are," she says raising her bottle to the sky, all eyes following. The girls all keep chatting for a bit, but they eventually notice a silence, coming from the Slayer. He was looking at the ground, grip tightening around his bottle.
"Something wrong?" Modeus asks quietly, reaching out to attempt to cheer him up from his seemingly foul mood.
"It's not fair. It's not fair. IT'S NOT FUCKING FAIR!" The Slayer shouts, the bottle shattering in his hand, making everyone recoil, and Marauder to hide under Judgement and whimper. "I did SO much for humanity. I've been to Hell more times than I can count. I've seen a false Heaven. You know what I haven't seen? A true Heaven. Somewhere that the souls of the dead can truly go, to find peace. Where are all those people now? Where's your father, Elie? Turned into Argent energy? Nothing more than a fuel source for Hell? Even if they were as good and righteous as they should be, as every religion would agree? Or do they just fade into nothing? It's not fair, that there is no rest. As of now? Every religion on Earth is wrong. You either cease to exist, or suffer eternally! WHAT PART OF THAT IS IN ANY FUCKING WAY FAIR! THEY ALL DESERVE A HEAVEN!" He shouts, fists clenched tightly. Lucifer in particular thought she saw what could be the ghost of a tear in his eye, as he stomped off, full of rage, punching a few trees to calm down, before heading into his tent.
Everyone sat still, in stunned silence. Everyone eyeing the broken bottle on the ground, as well as where he once sat. They all realized he was right, but it was still such a shock. He had never sworn before, nor yelled in such anger. But what was worse? This wasn't an anger he could do something about. The problem couldn't be solved by ripping and tearing. After a while, Lucifer goes into his tent to check on him.
"Hey Bill," she says quietly, as he sits there, fists still clenched, and visible tears in his eyes, and she sits next to him, putting an arm around him.
"It might not be smart of you to be in here with me," he says quietly, rage and sadness still smoldering in his voice.
"But it helps you, doesn't it?" she responds quietly, leaning into him. "To feel human comfort, for once?" She reaches up to kiss him. "Let me help you forget your worries, at least for tonight. Let me help you forget your burden, and feel human." He responds by kissing gently at first, but then their kissing grows more and more passionate. They were no longer a god and a demon, as lips and hands started to wander. Only two people, sharing each other, comforting each other. Only a man and woman, as clothing started to come off, and moans left mouths while bodies were explored. Though they could pass for gods, with him having the muscles of Ares and her the beauty of Aphrodite. Though she may not have felt like a queen for some time, now she had a new throne, one much better than any she had ever had the pleasure of. For now, she was a queen, able to please her king, to show him her body, and give it as well. And he responded, with many kisses, and even a few bites and nibbles. Extra care was given to her horns, and tail, which were some of the most sensitive parts of her body that usually didn't hide behind clothes. Maybe the moment wasn't the most perfect, due to inexperience on both sides. But they both loved every moment of it. Every moan, every sweat drop, every shudder a testament to the love being shared, the comfort, the pleasure. And when the time came, it came over them like a wave, both of them crying out together. But they didn't stop. On and on they went, over and over, all through the night.
The others had watched Lucifer enter the Slayer's tent, hoping things would be fine, that the Slayer would calm down from his outburst. They made small talk for a bit, until Marauder was caught staring at their tent intently, and Justice listened too, telling everyone to quiet down, until all heard the soft moans coming from within.
"My man!" Justice says, but quiet enough so the two didn't hear them. "I always figured she'd be first. And now it's finally happening," she says with a wide grin and finger guns.
"I could've given them tips," Modeus says pouting, but still with a bit of a smile. "Though...from the sounds of things? They may not need them. Well, the morning will reveal all," she says, as one by one, they all slowly start to head back towards tents, though the most nocturnal of them were becoming slightly annoyed at how long the pair were lasting.
"Primal fire, how long has it been now?" Zdrada asks, mainly to a sleepy Elie and Azazel. "I thought humans had limits to what they could do."
"He's not exactly fully human anymore, is he?" Azazel chimes in. "But judging from the sounds coming from within, I predict that it only IS Mr. William doing the work. If the Beast had somehow woken up, aroused...things would sound a lot different."
"Wow...so maybe he IS a god after all," Elie says with some wonder. "At this rate? I'm about to search for the nearest Slayerist church. Put me in that fake Divinity Machine!" she says with a drunken smile. "Get ME drunk enough, and even I might enter that tent with him, so I can...show him my appreciation," she says, undoing a few buttons on her shirt.
"Now now, no need for that," Azazel says, though she can't help but stare at what was on display. "You should only want to do that for people you actually like."
"What, like you?" Elie responds with a giggle. "Maybe I should drag you to your tent?"
"H-hey, while I wouldn't mind that, I didn't fully mean it in that way..." Azazel says, even as a giggling Elie takes her hand to pull her towards her tent.
"Wow, guess I should hit the sack too," Zdrada says to nobody, giving a long puff of smoke. "Hopefully, they all," she glances between Azazel's tent, with lots of giggling coming from it, and the Slayer's, from which moans still emanated, "can keep it down. Last thing we need is to have to get earplugs from all the sex going on." Though deep down, she wanted to hear, not that she fully wanted to admit it. She wanted to hear everything that was going on, her mind filling in the blanks. It was a thought barely there, as she turned in for the night.