No matter how many times he has seen it, no matter how many times he has personally traversed their domain, the Maykrs home of Urdak was truly the most unique of any portion of Heaven.
Never before them had any Heaven resembled something that could be compared to a dream, vivid colors of a cosmic palette filling the space around them, as technological marvels stood tall like architectural art pieces. Of course the Maykrs themselves were just as unique, their forms which were a melding of flesh and metal, yet still looked heavenly and pure as opposed to visceral and disturbed, only further cemented their mastery over science. Yet none of these things were what perplexed Gabriel, even now as he walked through the holy halls of the Khan's personal sanctum, the questions that consumed his mind were directed towards their shared creator.
Why did the Maykrs need to exist, that was the core of these inquiries, for every Heaven had been made specifically to coincide with the appearance of a new Hell, yet the Maykrs were made a great deal of time before Doom came to be, further worsening their mystery. But these were thoughts that had no relevance to his investigation, and so he despite wanting to explore them had to suppress them for now.
"The Khan is expecting you, oh great angel." The Maykr who served as his guide informed, as they drew ever closer to her domain, "She has prepared for you all the information you have requested, however she would like to discuss something with you before your departure." They revealed.
"Is that so, tell me why does the Khan use one of her subordinates to relay such information, why not wait until I've arrived?" He questioned.
"She did not wish for you to feel ambushed great angel, for you to assume she was lying in wait to force a response out of you, it is of course entirely up to you if you choose to engage in conversation, but I have served my purpose either way." They responded, before coming to a stop in front of an elevator, "Her grace is currently attending to her garden, you may take this lift to see her." He instructed.
Nodding in reply the archangel would move to the center of the platform, turning around just in time to see the Maykr already departing to attend to their duties. Paying it no heed as the endeavors of one angel were not his concern, he placed his hand on the nearby apparatus which would cause the platform to ascend. As expected of the Maykrs their inventions were flawless, the time it took to reach the top of the tower like building was but a few seconds, but what he saw as he arrived was truly breathtaking. Up to this point all of the Maykrs' wonders were achieved by their own hand, or perhaps they were of the domain given to them by the creator, but this garden which met his vision as the lift stopped, was unlike any he had ever seen before.
A seemingly endless variety of plant life filled the space around him, and from just looking at them he could tell they were not from the same soil. Some he recognized from humanity's world, others he recalled seeing in a few of the planets governed by other angel factions, but a fair amount he'd never seen at all.
"I take it from your expression you are impressed?" The voice of the Khan Maykr asked from behind, causing him to turn around.
"I must admit, when your angel had told me just now you were in a garden, I wouldn't have expected to see this waiting for me." He admitted as he looked up to meet her gaze.
"I'll take that as a compliment." She replied as she descended from the sky to stand beside him.
Without his elevated position in the Heavenly court their current heights were in her favor, as in his present form he was just a bit greater than a normal mortal man in terms of measurements. But as stated due to his current form, like most high ranking Heavenly beings part of his power was to change his appearance, to be more accommodating to those who may gaze upon his visage. So even though she currently towered over him she did not dare feel arrogant or superior, for his true angelic form had not been seen in such a great deal of time, none but those of the highest order knew what it looked like.
"Tell me something, where did all of these plants come from?" He asked as he stepped off the platform to gain a better look at them, "Some are the same as the other plants I've seen growing naturally within your domain, but others I know for certain are from mortal worlds, and I assume the ones I don't are as well, so why have you gathered them all here?" He inquired.
"I'm afraid the answer is both simple as it is grim great angel." She warned as she moved to stay by his side, "These plants are reminders to me and my kin, of the horrors that Doom wrought in it's existence, for all of the flora you see comes from the worlds they delivered to ruin." She revealed.
"I see, so you have gathered them here in the hopes of preserving them then?" He asked.
"That is partly the reason, but they are also kept and cared for by us in memoriam to the souls lost, the worlds once beautiful and warm now cold and desolate like graveyards, we also bring them here in the hopes that while unable to restore the people to their planets, we can at the very least restore some form of life." She explained.
"That is...an admirable gesture, most other factions would simply let things be and aid the personally affected, yet you seek to do more, even when no one including myself has asked it of you." He commended.
"Doom was not of our making, but we still were tasked with overseeing it and did our best to manage it by the will of our creator, we did what we could with the aid of the Sentinels, but that circle was far too ravenous, and those that were spawned from its deepest pits had powers that no other demon or devil possessed, it was a constant struggle to keep them in check." She explained.
"Until the Slayer appeared, a normal mortal man who could bleed and sweat like any other of his kind, somehow he with nothing more than armaments of mortal steel and iron not only fought against their legions, but even struck fear into the voids that were their souls." He said.
"Yes, and it is because of his actions, both then and now, that you find yourself here seeking information from us, truly remarkable how these things happen." She replied as she turned to face him, "But there's no sense in wasting anymore time with needless conversation, Samur." She beckoned.
Appearing from behind one of the nearby structures, her Seraphim with a tome in hand would come to her side.
"You will find every bit of our history, our every day affairs, even the tasks of the drones and newer of angels all recorded there." She told him as Samur handed it over.
"It seems...rather light." He noticed as he received it and looked it over.
"The Sentinels, even with access to our divine intellect and inventions, still prefer to keep their history and all other information written on parchment, we however store all of ours in a more efficient way." She explained, as with but one finger she would open it for him, and from it a holographic display would come forward, "Though appearing as any other book it is made with our technology, all of the information stored within is entirely digital, with the few physical pages being a means for those not used to such a device, to have guidance and instruction of how to navigate it." She revealed.
"Yet another surprise from your kind, as expected at this point." He said as he closed the tome, "However, the angel who guided me said you had something you wished to discuss with me before I left, was that our prior conversation or is there something else?" He asked.
"It was, however there is one thing I would like to ask you great angel, a follow up to what was said." She answered.
"Very well, what is it then?" He inquired.
"As I explained to you these plants exist here not only for the purpose of honoring the innocent who suffered, but also so we may restore the affected worlds as best we can, and while all that was lost was by the hand of the dark lords of Doom, I ask you is it not careless of us not to be prepared for if it should happen again?" She asked.
"Elaborate." He requested, curious as to what she was implying.
"Doom was the product of the circles who were involved in the great war, their combined power and corruption led to a new circle where that was all that existed, no empathy or rationality just uncontrolled chaos, and while it has been eons since the war ended and the treaty was signed, do you not think it would be better for us to have a greater governance over Hell in it's entirety?" She suggested.
A moment of silence came between them as Gabriel considered her notion, and while what she had said didn't necessarily reveal any new information, it did help him to begin assessing why this all started in the first place.
"Khan Maykr, I would warn you against having such thoughts, what you propose would not only affect all circles of Hell, but the ramifications would extend to the rest of creation." He said to her.
"I understand, but this peace we have with them, this so called understanding, how long before it begins to fade much like the ink it was written in? how long before the lords of each circle grow tired of their own tasks and revive those long since buried ambitions? especially now that creation has grown so much since their initial attempts?" She asked him.
Once more the archangel fell quiet as her words reached his ears, and just as before she had relayed this possibility in a way that offered no revelations. Still it was clear to Gabriel that what transpired now was not a series of accidents, nor unintentional oversight. Something had been conspired by the Maykrs and no doubt the Sentinels as well, and seeing as how willing she was to say such things to him of all people, made him worry that perhaps everything including his investigation was anticipated.
"You have given me much to think about Khan Maykr, as did the king of the Sentinels, I promise you that once I have reviewed both provided archives of your separate and shared histories, the next meeting shall happen soon after." He told her as he moved back to the
platform, "And as for the Slayer, whatever his true part in this whole thing may be, as stated before he WILL be present at that meeting, even if I must send my own subordinates to escort him." He added, before pressing his hand against the apparatus.
Watching as he descended back into the structure, both Maykrs would wait until they heard the lift stop and he be met by another angel, before they turned their backs to the opening and moved away.
"I'm impressed by your restraint, I fully expected you to show more of our hand in that exchange." Samur admitted causing her to smile.
"I will admit it was rather challenging, we've been keeping so much secret up to this point, I'm greatly excited for when all of Heaven knows our plans." She replied.
"Indeed, still I cannot help but wonder if there are a few things we have not fully considered, certain outcomes that while unlikely could still happen." He said.
"This is why we are to hold a meeting with the Sentinels and the Wraiths, to go over our contingencies in the event things go awry." She reminded him.
"True, I expect we will hear from King Novik soon given he was the first Gabriel met with." He responded.
"Yes, but if I'm not mistaken you have to go meet with our champion before that meeting is held correct?" She inquired.
"That I do, Vega requested some time ago that I bring to him all information regarding Lucifer's involvement in the war, as well as any other mentions of the circles coming into contact with the Sentinels and their technology." He explained.
"Then you should leave now, as you said King Novik will no doubt be here soon, it would be best if you have finished your business with our champion before then." She told him.
Nodding to show he understood Samur would take his leave of her presence to attend to the matter, allowing her some time of peace in her garden.
Take a moment to think of scenes from films in which two people sit at a table, and at the center of that table is a revolver holding but one bullet. The silence is unsettling, the tension could be cut with a knife, and at any moment one of them could pick up the weapon and kill the other. This level of uncomfortable anxiety inducing stress was the current atmosphere of Lucifer's limo. Even the driver who was not a part of any of this, felt uneasy as he took them back to the hotel.
Lucifer himself of course sat in the very back, the trio of Millie, Moxxie, and Loona all sat on the left side, where as Blitzo sat opposite of them on the right side for at the moment he wasn't in their graces. Then you had Angel and Cherri, and while they could see the clear as day animosity everyone had, they still couldn't keep themselves from whispering to each other as to not have their mood ruined. Which to be fair would have been perfectly fine in any other situation, but given how quiet it was their whispers could be heard by EVERYONE.
"Man, this is like a bar after happy hour, when the only people left are the drunks and suicidal people." Angel Dust whispered, as they looked at all of their forlorn expressions.
"Yeah, you'd think that they'd be at least a little excited to be riding in the king of Hell's limousine."
Cherri whispered back.
"Do you think we should say something? try to lighten the mood?" He suggested.
"What the fuck would we say though? they all look so depressed makes ME want to kill myself." She replied.
"Yeah good point, maybe if we try saying a joke or something that'll help?" He suggested.
"The only things I know that would count as jokes are insults I came up with for Sir Pentious, but I don't think those would work here." She replied.
"Well then what about-"
"WE CAN FUCKING HEAR YOU!" Loona suddenly shouted in rage, catching everyone by surprise.
"...Oh." Both said in unison.
"I appreciate you two even caring enough to try and lighten the mood, but there's really nothing you can do." Lucifer told them.
"At least tell us what this is all about then, because it's pretty fucking annoying to be the only people who don't know why you're all so pissed of." Angel said.
"Yeah, how can you expect us to NOT talk about it when you're all acting like a bunch of ticked off mimes?" Cherri asked.
"Fair enough, while I won't get into the details of it as it's obviously unpleasant, in short I went in to talk to this one, he argued with me, he then insulted me, and at the same time as doing that he got on their bad side." He explained while pointing at Blitzo and the others.
"Oof, you must've really screwed the pooch in there huh?" Angel asked addressing Blitzo. "...I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name." Blitzo replied looking to him.
"Angel Dust." The spider demon stated.
"Oh of course Angel Dust, the famous porn star right?" Blitzo asked. "The very same." Angel answered proudly.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't you also a prostitute? and if I remember hearing this right, the favorite fuck toy of the owner of Porn Studios? Valentino I'm pretty sure is his name." Blitzo replied.
As those words left his lips Angel's expression changed near instantly, and what it changed to managed to even surprise Lucifer. The normally laid back and carefree face of the white furred demon was now deathly serious, and stared at the lanky imp with a rather violent looking glare.
"You don't know shit pal." Angel Dust told him, even his tone of voice changing to match his current expression.
"Oh don't I? I mean it's pretty common knowledge that most of the time when Valentino's driving around, he usually tosses you out either to work some street corner, or because he beat your ass for disobeying him." Blitzo said.
"Alright fuckwad that's enough." Cherri joined in, her expression and tone just as serious as her companion's.
"Yes Blitzo, I believe that you've said enough to make your point, now stop." Lucifer also intervened.
Even though he was in a very awful mood, and he wanted to continue his verbal attack on the perverted celebrity, Blitzo at this point was walking on too many wires and chose to listen. And in an unexpected yet pleasant turn of events, once the situation was diffused Angel Dust would look at Lucifer, and for a brief moment gave him a thankful smile. This in turn caused another brief but noticeable smile to appear on his face as well, for while they were at best just barely acquaintances, it still was nice to know the other appreciated his aid. Thankfully it would not take
much longer after that unpleasant exchange for them to make it back to the hotel, and as the vehicle finally came to a full stop everyone was eager to get out.
Stretching their arms and legs, though mostly Cherri and Angel given how long they'd been sitting, they would all silently follow Lucifer as he led them to the building. Sadly it would be made apparent that was the only peaceful moment he would get, for the moment he opened the doors he was greeted with:
"HELLO THERE LUCI! I've been looking all over for you!" The static laced voice of Alastor exclaimed zestfully.
"...God...fucking...damn it..." Lucifer grimaced with a heavy sigh, as the red clad deer demon approached him.
"Sorry honey, he just showed up and insisted on waiting for you to come back..." Lilith apologized from the couch, where she and Katie were both seated.
"And it's a good thing that I did! look at all of these brand new faces you've brought back with you! it seems the hotel is already booming in business!" Alastor noticed.
"What do you WANT Alastor..." Lucifer replied tiredly, for even though he had planned to seek out the other earlier, after what happened at Stolas's manor he desperately wanted a break.
"Well, I was sitting around waiting and wondering when I should come and speak with that associate of yours, about our deal specifically and what not, when it occurred to me that perhaps I could be of more use to not just him, but you and your family as well!" He explained.
"Oh no..." Lucifer said, unable to say anything else as Alastor immediately went into his pitch.
"Oh yes! you see as I told that big brute of a man before, I have a LOT of favors stacked up to the ceiling from other demons, and upon further inspection of just this lobby, it is apparent to me that YOU could use some extra hands to REALLY sell this crazy idea to everyone." He told him.
"No, no, no, no, for the love of everything that is holy and forsaken in this life NO!" Lucifer shouted back at him.
"Oh come on Luci, don't be so quick to refute my offer! It's a steal if anything! Why I'm giving you all of this for FREE! No hidden fees, no crossed fingers, not even a forked tongue flickering from my mouth! Which I'm fairly certain you'd know a whole lot about." He jested.
Clenching his fists and shutting his eyes tight, it felt as though every vessel in Lucifer's body was about to burst. This is when his wife, his beautiful and wonderful wife, would leave her seat and hurry beside him, taking his place in the conversation.
"Alastor, while me and my husband appreciate such...generosity, be rest assured that with our limitless resources and connections, it'll take no time or effort at all to form a staff of employees for the hotel." She explained.
"Hm, that is a fair argument, counterpoint!" He exclaimed before gesturing to Katie, "You already have a CELEBRITY in your residency! Do you really think that anyone, especially given her reputation and the fact that she is supposed to be dead, will be able to keep their lips sealed tight about her being here?" He questioned.
"Well, I'm sure we can-"
"And what about potential moles or leaks in the staff?" He asked cutting her off, "While I'm certain you would be thorough in your background checks, it is a sad fact about our population that almost anyone can be bought, coerced, or even threatened into doing something nefarious!" He exclaimed.
"Uh, well, um, I suppose I can't disagree with that..." Lilith agreed.
"Precisely! So why take the chance that some janitor, or chef, or even the bell boy might stab you in the back with twenty different knives? When you could just make a deal with me and know for certain that I am NOT up to anything underhanded or conniving?" He asked, earning immediate doubtful looks in response, "Specifically, anything that could damage the hotel or your reputation." He clarified.
Walking away though only a small bit to talk it over with her husband, as they huddled close to converse Alastor would set his sights onto the new "guests", much to their displeasure.
"What do you think?" Lilith asked once they were far enough away.
"First of all, thank you, I have been through a lot today and I needed that." Lucifer told her which caused her to smile, "Secondly, I know Alastor probably has dozens if not hundreds of different schemes, all bouncing around in his head like animated springs, but he actually did make a very valid point, once we go public about everything in Hell knows about the Slayer, it'll be nigh impossible not to assume everyone we speak or meet with isn't working some kind of angle." He said.
"True, at least with Alastor we know that anything he does is purely for his own entertainment, he has no aspirations of ruling Hell or anything else like that, he just wants to be "inspired", whatever that means to him." She replied.
"Exactly, so while I am admittedly tired, and I desperately need to sleep, I do think my judgment is sound enough to see this is the least worst decision we could possibly make." He said.
"Alright then, looks like we have a deal." She replied as they broke away.
Looking back to Alastor as they walked over they saw that he was just staring at the others, that big yellow grin present all the while. But once they drew close enough his attention went back to them, and while that smile was still creepy it seemed somehow a bit more joyful than sinister.
"So, what have you decided?" Alastor asked.
"You've made your point, and after discussing it we agree with it, out of every soul in Hell we could put our trust in you're the least likely to fuck us over." Lilith told him.
"However, I am exhausted, like about to fall to the floor in a coma exhausted, so before any details get worked out or staff get chosen, could we please wait until tomorrow to get into it? I need to lie
down..." Lucifer requested.
"Of course Luci, why that's no trouble at all! you go and regain your healthy white glow while I explore the hotel and become familiar with everything." Alastor said before walking away.
"Alright everyone, I'm going to go pass out for the next several hours, if not until tomorrow morning, my wife will help you choose a room that is to your preference and to answer any questions you may have." Lucifer told the others.
With that being said everyone made their way over to the check in desk, already talking among themselves about which room they would want to stay in.
"Sorry to leave you alone to deal with all of this." Lucifer apologized, as he and his wife walked towards the ground floor rooms' hallway.
"If you can manage to put up with all of them while trapped inside of a limo, I can manage to give them room keys and make sure they don't trash the place." She assured causing him to smile, "Also, after I get everyone settled, and finish up my work with Katie for the moment, maybe I'll come and join you~" She told him with a kiss to his cheek.
Feeling a slight shiver, though a good one, go up his spine at that suggestion, the king and queen then parted ways though only for the time being.
"I see you're still unsure about changing your arsenal." Vega commented, as the Slayer even still debated on altering his loadout.
It wasn't an easy thing at all for the Slayer to try and relax, even parting with just one gun felt like he was leaving himself exposed, ready to be pounced on by some waiting threat. Even though for nearly the entire time he has spent in Lucifer's circle he has barely brandished his weapons, his mind kept thinking back to all the times when he was stripped of his armaments, and was forced to rely on nothing more than his fists and a single pistol to survive. During those moments is when he felt the most cold, not in the sense he was afraid or unsettled, but rather that he was almost entirely detached from reality. No thinking, no emotions, nothing else other than the basic drive to survive and overcome, even as his flesh was seared by fire or his bones beaten by clawed hands, he ignored it all and pressed forward.
But it wasn't just his normal weaponry he considered leaving behind, before he had entered Lucifer's Hell he had requested Vega prepare one specific weapon. A weapon so powerful, so terrifyingly destructive, that even the Sentinels and the Maykrs were baffled by its existence. And what was most shocking about this weapon was that it had not been made by either, this was a weapon just as old as the Slayer's personal shotgun, and just as closely held as well. Yet before Vega could offer any assistance on the issue, the gateway which they used to create portals suddenly activated, putting both individuals on immediate alert.
"I'm sorry if I startled you." The voice of Samur Maykr spoke out, soon followed by his cloaked visage emerging from the portal, "But I am here to deliver the information you requested of me, apologies that it took so long for it to arrive." He said.
"It's rather unusual for you to come here without informing us ahead of time, has something happened?" Vega questioned, as Samur made his way towards the terminal.
"Things are progressing as we have expected them to, however the archangel is growing more invested in our matters, soon he will demand that you stand before him and clarify certain things,
and so I am here to give you want you want as well as warn you." He explained.
Lifting one of his arms up to meet the Slayer held in it's hand was a data card, one that could be inserted into the terminal allowing them to access the information on it.
"I see you're looking over your weapons, are you planning to remove some from you suit's storage?" He asked, as the Slayer took the card from him.
"Yes, however he has been here for some time with no changes being made, as expected." Vega answered.
"Hmph, always one for caution, though I can't say I disagree with that." He replied as he looked to the gateway, "Lucifer's circle and his demons may for the most part be humans, but as you are living proof mortals can be capable of truly anything, it would be only a fool's mindset to assume there are no threats waiting to reveal themselves." He explained.
"True, but even the most powerful of its residents, Lucifer and his family included, are barely comparable to some of the most common of Doom's former populace." Vega argued.
"A fair point, I'm not saying that you should feel the necessity of carrying a rocket launcher or a chain gun around with you, only that you shouldn't ignore that vigilance of yours." He clarified as he began to depart, "If you have any further need of my assistance you need only to request it, but for now I must return and attend to my duties, until we see each other again." He told them.
Watching as he went through the portal and it dispersing soon after, the Slayer took what he had said to heart, and decided that even if he should never find a situation to actually use his full arsenal, it would still be best to leave it as it were. And so with that matter finally settled both the Slayer and Vega got to work going over the information delivered, in addition to finishing the documentary which was nearly complete.