A constant wave of refreshing cold air. That was the first sensation Angel Dust felt as he-
...
...
...
...Wait. This has happened before. Recently. Angel Dust was unconscious. He woke up in a strange new place filled with advanced technology. And then he...OH. THAT'S RIGHT!
Now it was coming back to him. After that startling moment of deja vu, Angel Dust, similarly to how he recalled the night before, remembered how he found himself in total darkness for the second time. He was in an office; he was talking to a giant robot who turned out to be his doctor, and the doctor told him that they were-
"ON MARS?!" Angel Dust woke up with a shout, jolting into an upright position.
Or he would've if he wasn't already sitting down. To his surprise, the spider demon hadn't been moved from the chair he was in when talking to the doctor. Although, one new addition was a blanket, undoubtedly provided by the mechanical man. Speaking of, as Angel Dust quickly looked around the room, he noticed the absence of his cybernetic caretaker.
"Huh. He's not here. " Angel Dust said to himself while looking down at the blanket. "I must've passed out. It was nice of him to cover me with something." He added.
Now that Angel Dust was mostly back to his senses, with the blanket still wrapped around himself, he rose from his seat and began walking around the office. He assumed the doctor would be back eventually; it'd be weird if he didn't and just left a stranger alone with his belongings. In the meantime, the curious spider would gladly examine each item on display.
"Some of this stuff looks demonic..." Angel Dust thought, currently standing in front of a massive stone tablet on the wall that depicted a peculiar-looking sword. "But I've never seen these symbols. Although, to be fair, it's not like I'm a historian on Hell. Maybe this is some expert-level stuff. The type of shit Al would fuck around with for giggles." He suggested.
From the smallest curios to the largest objects in the office, such as the eye-catching tablet. Everything Angel Dust saw was fascinating and made him want to know more about who the doctor was and what this whole place was for. Of course, perusing these items led the spider demon to the statue of the armor-wearing figure made from stone.
"I wonder who this is?" Angel Dust pondered, closely examining the impressive amount of detail in the sculpture. "I've never seen this kind of armor before. It looks sci-fi. Maybe the doc's favorite movie star or something?" He guessed, only to quickly reject that idea. "Nah, the doc doesn't seem like the type. Plus, the stone this thing's made of looks as old as the slab. But how does that make sense? Their only similarity is that they're both carved from a rock. Maybe even the same one." He continued to think, trying to understand any of what he was seeing.
After staring at the statue for a minute longer, Angel Dust's focus would move to the last interesting thing in his surroundings, the window that made him pass out. The doctor hadn't changed it back to the way it was, allowing the multi-limbed Sinner to look out onto the martian landscape again. But unlike with the tablet, the shelf, or the statue, no thoughts or words came to Angel Dust. He just stood there, staring, cementing in his soul that this wasn't a trick or some form of illusion; it was real.
And as if to further validate it as the truth, he gently pressed his head against the glass and closed his eyes. While focusing only on his hearing, Angel Dust tried to listen to the wind blowing clouds of red soil across the terrain. It was faint, to the point it could be considered a trick his mind was playing on him, but still, he believed he could hear it. The breath of an alien world.
At that moment, Angel Dust felt something he hadn't before, or perhaps, he couldn't remember the last time he did. Everything ceased to exist. His worries, confusion, and fear were all gone. Listening to something so few people could claim they experienced brought tranquility to his soul he couldn't describe.
That might sound strange, given Angel Dust was a former human turned demon who lived in Hell. But there was nothing good about that, nothing wonderous or fantastical. It was miserable, a horrible existence that he'd give anything to get away from. And for right now, for however long it may last, he was, Angel Dust was in a place where he could relax and dare to be happy.
This made him smile, which he didn't consciously do. It was a natural reaction to this peaceful pause in time. Yet as the seconds became minutes, Angel Dust started to lose track of both. So he had no idea how long he'd been standing there by the time he was brought out of his trance-like state. Caused by the sound of the door's mechanical locks moving on the other side, indicating that someone was about to enter.
"Ah. I see you're awake." Dr. Samuel Hayden greeted, stepping into the room once the door was opened. "I apologize if you've been waiting for quite a while. I didn't want to unsettle you by remaining in the room as you slept. So, after covering you so you wouldn't get cold, I attended to a few things, and it took longer than I anticipated." He explained.
"Oh, no. Please, you have nothing to apologize for." Angel Dust replied, maintaining his smile while gripping the blanket still on his body. "I've never had someone be so kind to me. Well, that's not entirely true, but it's complicated." He said, remembering Charlie.
"Hm, that's unfortunate to hear. Even when considering where it is you come from." Dr. Samuel Hayden commented before turning around. "But we can discuss this more as we walk. Now that you're awake, I'd like to continue our conversation from before while also showing you the facility. Assuming you have no issues with that." He told him.
"Nope. No problems at all, doc." Angel Dust assured, his happy expression never faltering.
With that confirmation, doctor Samuel Hayden and his guest left the office. They walked halfway down the corridor before coming to a stop. To their left was another door that Angel Dust hadn't noticed the first time he walked through from the elevator. Proceeding through it after it opened, the duo entered a very large area with multiple floors, of which they were on the top.
However, the first thing to grab the spider demon's attention was the multiple machines and robots currently cleaning the space despite it appearing spotless.
"Hey, doc, what're they doing?" Angel Dust asked, watching them work. "I can see my reflection in everything here. There doesn't seem to be a spec of dust, let alone a mess." He noted.
"There...was..." Dr. Samuel Hayden slowly informed. Much like the mention of a third partner that happened earlier, from just his tone, it didn't sound good. "I won't be able to relieve these machines of their duties until they've gone over the area a minimum of ten times. What happened here will forever stain my memory and, perhaps, has permanently ruined it in my eyes. But only time will tell." He explained.
"Shit, I'm sorry for asking then." Angel Dust apologized. Although still desperate for answers, whatever the doc's situation was, it was one that no one would want to be in. And he could relate to that better than most.
"Heh, both of us keep apologizing to each other." Dr. Samuel Hayden realized, finding that amusing.
"Yeah, I guess we do." Angel Dust agreed with a chuckle. "To be fair to us both, this isn't exactly a normal day. Or...is it daytime? I don't know what that would look like on mars." He inquired.
"No, you're correct. Currently, it's quite early in the morning by this specific time zone." Dr. Samuel Hayden confirmed. "But enough about that for now. Let's focus back on making sense of everything for you. Starting with this compound and its purpose." He said.
"I'm all ears, doc. And I promise I won't pass out." Angel Dust replied, eager to listen.
Over the next half hour, this unlikely pair of individuals would traverse their technologically advanced surroundings. Back and forth, the two of them talked. Doctor Samuel Hayden would explain and reveal many things, to which Angel Dust would respond with questions and intrigued commentary. Yet during it all, the spider demon refrained from mentioning a particular detail about this place that stuck out like a sore thumb.
This facility, which his guide had informed him was meant for research, was empty. Apart from them, the only other "living" things were the robots getting into every nook and cranny for total cleanliness. And while Angel Dust wasn't the brightest bulb in the hardware store, he wasn't a dimwit either. Something bad happened here, leaving doctor Samuel Hayden, whose name he finally committed to memory, as one of the only survivors.
Although, regarding his survival, he barely managed to make it. At least, that's how it looked from Angel Dust's perspective. There were no doubts that this was a REAL person he was talking to, and not some artificial intelligence as you see in the movies. But...there was so little left, and given the body's design, it had to be located either in the sizeable chest or head.
Which would then mean that what remained had to be the doctor's brain. It couldn't be anything else. No bones, no muscles, no organs, nothing. And fuck, that might not even be true. With all the insanely impressive tech on display, maybe the doc somehow transferred his consciousness into a machine.
As he continued to think about it, to dwell on the what ifs of the truth. Angel Dust couldn't take it anymore and needed to learn what it was, willing to run the risk that he'd be stepping on a conversational landmine.
"...Doc." Angel Dust hesitantly spoke up while stopping, making his guide do the same. "I'm...super sorry if this pisses you off...I feel shitty just for thinking about it...but...how...how did you..."
"Become a robot?" Dr. Samuel Hayden asked, finishing the question.
"Uh...yeah...that..." Angel Dust confirmed, bracing himself for the response.
Yet instead of replying with words, doctor Samuel Hayden walked over to a nearby wall at the bottom of a flight of stairs. Currently, the pair were in a lobby. And the wall that he approached had several photos hanging on it. Watching as he gently removed one before coming back, Angel Dust would see a picture of a mature man with a wise-looking face.
"I had brain cancer." Dr. Samuel Hayden began as his companion studied the image. "I suppose I still do, as it hasn't been cured. In addition to preserving my brain, this body prevents the disease from spreading and developing further. One of the many research projects we were working on was a new form of medicine that my staff referred to in jest as mega health. Despite that ridiculous name, it is an apt title for the product. Unfortunately, no normal human would survive its application in its current state. They'd be cured of all ailments and experience health improvements across the board. But their overall lifespan would be shortened to such an extent that it could be considered a new form of euthanasia. So, not quite a cure for cancer yet. But perhaps, with more time and research, someday it could be." He explained.
"Geez, life's fucked you good, hasn't it?" Angel Dust asked while gesturing to the picture. "I mean, look at ya. Sure, you're no Adonis. No offense. But you had a lot of good years left. Probably made all the women around here turn their heads when you walked by." He complimented, much to the doctor's amusement. He even managed to make him laugh a little.
"Thank you." Dr. Samuel Hayden replied as he was handed back the picture. "But, do not worry, I think I prefer my new body to my old one. I never get tired. I'm never hungry. And I can accomplish far more than now than ever before." He listed.
"Yeah, but you can't have sex! And I don't know if life's worth living without that." Angel Dust argued, once more making him laugh.
"That would be a great sacrifice for many. But for me, I do just fine." Dr. Samuel Hayden assured. "Now then, before I resume rambling. Do you feel you know enough to ask more questions?" He inquired.
"A few. Hope you don't mind if I get them all out in one go." Angel Dust responded.
"Not at all. Please, let me have them." Dr. Samuel Hayden welcomed.
"Okay." Angel Dust started with, taking a deep breath before continuing. "So, I think I've got a solid grasp on this place and what you do here. You're researching mars. Or you just work on mars because it's safer than working around people. But that doesn't explain how you know about Hell or how we're apparently in a different universe from the one I know, which I'm still trying to wrap my head around. So, could you explain that a little more?
Then there's your associate, who saved me from those handsy assholes who wanted to do more than sample the goods, if you know what I'm saying. You still haven't told me anything about him. I'll understand if it's because you can't fully trust me or something else like that. But if there isn't an issue, who is he?
Lastly, and this is the biggest one, what happens now? Saving my ass, while appreciated, wasn't part of your guys' plan. After everything you've done for me, I'd hate it if I've somehow fucked up whatever you were doing. Because, even if you're up to some shady shit, you and this mystery hero of mine are easily the nicest folks I've met in a LONG time. Maybe even nicer than a girl I know who's so nice it's borderline creepy. So, if I HAVE fucked shit up for you, I'm sorry." He asked, ending with an apology.
For a few seconds, there was silence, which Angel Dust expected.
"Concerning your first question, it'd take far too long to go through it at this time. We still need to get you back home, and keeping you longer than we already have will only draw unnecessary attention. But I give you my word that I will tell you everything I know when it is more convenient for us both.
As for my associate, I believe it would be best if you two met properly as we have. I am aware that I sound like a broken record by this point. But I am being truthful when I say it will take more time than we currently have to offer enough details about him to where you'd be satisfied. I am sorry to keep asking you for patience when you deserve answers.
Finally, and this is something I can address presently, what happens to you now is entirely within your control. As I stated in my office, you are not a prisoner here. When you're ready, I will escort you to the device that will send you to a chosen location back in your Hell. And if you want to put this all behind you, forget everything you've learned and return to normalcy, you can. We will not come looking for you or hold our acts of kindness over you like a debt." Dr. Samuel Hayden answered.
Now, it was Angel Dust's turn to be silent. With an exhale to steady his mind, he carefully considered what he was told. In all honesty, the doctor gave him more than he expected. Throughout this experience, there had been an air of secrecy to...whatever this is. And by no means did Angel Dust have any right to know anything about it.
But at no point had doctor Samuel Hayden withhold relevant information. He gave his word, which Angel Dust trusted without hesitation, that more would be shared later when they had enough time. This was a reasonable request, considering what the doctor and his unknown accomplice had done for him. And to top it all off, whether or not he learned more was HIS decision; Angel Dust wasn't being forced into silence or threatened in any other way.
So, with all this in mind and with everything else considered. The spider demon looked up at the single optic of doctor Samuel Hayden with a smile.
"It's a date, then." Angel Dust said with a wink, feeling comfortable enough to be his usual flirtatious self. "Me, you, and the stranger. We'll get together for lunch or dinner, and you can make me black out from shock again. Sound good?" He suggested.
"You may have to bring the food. I don't know if I'll have the means to do so by your second visit." Dr. Samur Hayden replied.
"That's fine. I'll consider it as my first payment. You know, for the debt?" Angel Dust told him before holding up a finger. "And don't try saying ANYTHING about that, alright? You two saved me, took care of me, and have been nothing but nice. I'm indebted to you, and that shit's final. I'll even work up a contract for you to sign if you try and argue with me." He asserted.
"I see. Very well. I will accept. Although, I don't know if I have another choice." Dr. Samuel Hayden agreed, turning the spider's smile into a grin.
"You're right. You don't." Angel Dust confirmed. "Also, if we're gonna be meeting again, working on this new relationship and all, call me Angel. I think we're past formalities, even if we ignore the part when ya saw my junk." He said.
"Only if you call me by my first name as well. I believe that would be fair." Dr. Samuel Hayden responded.
"Sounds good to me. Angel and Samuel." Angel Dust stated.
And so, with that settled, doctor Samuel Hayden, or just Samuel, escorted Angel through the facility one last time. Their new and final destination was a device of significant size. Angel's best guess about its identity and function was that of a teleporter or something similar. Turns out, he was sort of right.
Samuel explained that it was a Slipgate. A device that could create rifts that would allow one to traverse reality with the same ease as walking through a doorway. And with a specific destination, he could send Angel anywhere he wanted. With this in mind, the spider demon requested to be sent to his room at a place known as the Happy Hotel.
Beyond the obvious reasons why he'd choose to be sent here, Angel knew it'd be easier for him to make up a cover story for where he's been if he was already there. Rather than if he were to walk in the front door after not coming back the previous night and pretending like that wasn't weird. Samuel agreed with his logic, even praising him for that forethought, and after a little effort, he set the Slipgate to that precise location. Allowing Angel to return home with no one but themselves the wiser.
A fact that, as Angel Dust reflected on everything in the kitchen of the Happy Hotel while making breakfast, made him smile from ear to ear.
