Chapter 223
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Note: Lucifer is from the television series of the same name, Ares is from "Xena warrior princess."
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Lucifer was having trouble adapting to Antarctica. It wasn't just the cold, or the physical labor. It was the thought of this final battle. If he ended up fighting for Good and died, he'd go to this new Heaven. Lucifer had fought a rebellion and earned his right to leave one Heaven. He had no reason to think that the new one was any less boring. Buf if he fought for Good and survived, he'd have to live in a world that was, at least temporarily, free of sin. That thought terrified Lucifer, but he didn't want to be the one who ruined such a Utopia for everyone else, he didn't want to be the embodiement of Evil that so many tried to make him out to be, but he also didn't want to live in a world that sounded so boring. For now, Lucifer provided people in Antarctica with certain vices, alcohol, tobacco, narcotics. He had been warned that if addiction was common, then their chances of winning the final battle greatly decreased. But these people were all refugees, they had all been through much, many had literally escaped from Hell. If they didn't have some release they'd all go crazy, that wouldn't help their side either. One day Lucifer recieved a visit from an individual who could probably be more accurately called the devil than Lucifer. This was Ares, god of war, from the same universe as Xena.
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Lucifer: Ares, what do you want?
Ares: To make you an offer. How'd you like to have a little fun in Hell?
Lucifer: I've been to Hell, not as big a party as some seemed to think it was.
Ares: This Hell is better. For example, how many pornographic actors were in your Hell?
Lucifer: Sadly for me, very few. They just did too much good on Earth.
Ares: There are a lot of porn stars here. Apparently "God" or whatever you want to call it, was pretty harsh in his judgement. Not to mention booze, drugs, gambling, all the sex you could possibly want.
Lucifer: I don't know, I want quite a bit of sex. Besides, your version of Hell is just mass incarceration. I never minded punishing nazies and child molestors, but those people seem to do quite well there. The most evil prosper while turnstile jumpers and low lever drug users get tortured.
Ares: So why not come and change that? You could set up your own mini-kingdom, punish only those you feel deserve it.
Lucifer: You just want me to go there and start a few wars.
Ares: True, but that doesn't mean you couldn't do some good in Hell. And yes, I am tempting you to do some evil.
Lucifer: That doesn't mean you're wrong.
Ares: Besides, there are some people you might want to see released, Cain, your father.
Lucifer: Dear old dad is in Hell. I guess Liam Neeson was right, there's always a bigger fish.
Ares: Yes, there is. Would you like to see him?
Lucifer: Maybe. I know you're manipulating me, but from what I hear your intel is usually good. Maybe I will see you in Hell.