(The Past)
When ancient mortal civilizations and species across all of creation begin to develop a higher form of intelligence, one of the first things they always do is consider just how everything came to be.
Why is there a giant flaming sphere in the sky for half the day, while for the other half it is a different one or maybe even several? How did the land rise to form mountains so tall you cannot see their peaks from the ground? And of course the most pertinent of questions, why and how are we even here to begin with?
It is then that their search for answers leads them to presume a higher power must be at work, for how else could such marvelous things exist if not for a greater being behind it all? However as time continues to pass on and their intelligence grows steadily, they discover that through various methods the secrets they've sought the answers to were there all along, they merely needed to wait for when they figured out how to find them. This in turn causes a divide among the people, if we can begin to explain all of these wonderous things on our own, break them down piece by piece like a machine with its parts, is there actually any truth to the propositions of one all mighty creator, or are we but a product of an expanding reality?
For this reason many of those who are devoted to their faiths cry heresy, for even if we can begin to understand how everything is put together, the question of how it was assembled still remains and thus they remain firm in their spiritual beliefs. But this is exactly where all mortals begin to misunderstand the true nature of creation, for they never seem to ask the one question that could provide them all the clarity they desire. If there was a mastermind behind it all, an entity who made everything or at the very least allowed everything to exist, why would they impose strict rules or guidelines on how to live one's life when that betrays the very purpose of free will? Should there actually be a definitive god or higher power they would not interfere in the lives of mortals, for if they desired to see a particular outcome come to pass they would have just made it happen themselves.
So while this entity would be omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient, all this would mean is that they would KNOW how everything MIGHT play out, but they would restrain themselves from ever interfering, as that would be a misuse of their power. This is exactly why the creator made their children, though they as well were not to interfere with the lives of mortals to the same degree, they would still monitor and ensure that creation as a whole was maintained and kept in balance. One such child took this duty more seriously than all the others, not to imply however that the others were not diligent with their tasks of course.
Simply put the archangel known as Gabriel was given a position that could be summed up as a "supreme judge", bringing forth any entity whether they be Heavenborn, Hellspawn, or Mortal should their actions threaten creation. This is exactly why as of now he climbed the stairway that led to his parent's sanctum, a shining tower of radiant purity unmatched by anything else in all of existence. At the top of this tower resided the creator, hence why the tower itself was possibly the largest structure ever constructed. For when the creator needed or wanted to interact with anything directly as opposed to using its power, the form it chose was intimidatingly massive.
Of course they could have chosen a smaller form if they so desired, after all they were the first being and undoubtedly the most powerful. But that was a matter of preference and even the creator was not exempt from having them, the form that their children knew them to take when they so felt like it was just what they wanted, simple as that. Though admittedly it had been a great deal of time
since any of them had seen their parent, they used to walk through the entirety of Heaven long ago, but when the war happened they returned to the tower and have since never left. And there have been plenty of theories as to why this was, many assumed it was due to the pain of their children fighting to such a degree, a few believed that once mortals came to be they decided to focus their time on them.
Then there was the final theory, one that all of their children especially Gabriel believed wasn't true, because to them it was the most outlandish and blasphemous thing they had ever heard. That the creator in light of the war, had abandoned creation.
"How can anyone even propose such nonsense?" Gabriel asked himself as he neared the top of the stairs, his mind unable to keep from thinking about these things as he walked, "What would the point be in making all of this if they would just abandon it later, they are all knowing so they could see all of the potential outcomes, even the one that brought them pain." He said with closed eyes.
With a few more steps the archangel was finally able to take pause in his advance, not because he needed to rest or catch his breath, but because for him and his siblings this place was home. This is where they all were simultaneously made by the creator, the Heavens that were below this place they had made themselves. But before that happened, before they came into the powers they were given and their parent trusted their judgement, they spent what may be considered their youth here, under the watchful and loving gaze of their maker. Sadly this was no time for fond memories, as it would only bring up emotions good and bad which would waste time, he was here to speak with the creator regarding a truly unusual mortal and the nature of his soul.
Resuming his approach the entryway to the tower was still a good bit ahead, but the moment he was halfway to it he would be halted in his place. In front of him streams of light would gather from all around, quickly coming together to form creatures who were unrefined purity. These beautiful breathtaking figures though having little features to describe, served as the creator's Seraphim and caretakers of the tower. To his knowledge only he and his siblings had ever witnessed them apart from their parent, which made sense given that they were bound to this place, unable to leave for their existence was tied directly to the creator.
Once they had finished forming which only took a few short seconds, before the archangel could say even a single word they did so first.
"Gabriel, we know why you are here." Their shared voice told him, it being so calm and comforting it could ease even the most violent and ravenous of souls, "You seek answers regarding an ascended mortal, the one known as the Slayer to be precise." They said.
"That is correct, I am investigating him alongside the breed of angels known as the Maykrs, I believe that they are conspiring to upset the balance in some way, based off of their current actions and the answers provided at the last heavenly meeting." He responded.
"There is no need to explain your presence Gabriel, your reasons are just and your suspicions warranted, hence why we are present to give you the answer you seek." They revealed.
"Of course, I should expect nothing less from the creator." He admitted as he looked up to the tower, which from here he was unable to see the top, "Forgive me for asking this question but...how are they?" He inquired as he looked back down to them, "None of us have heard or seen anything of them since the war, and while we understand that it is because out of everyone they were the most hurt by it, many of us myself included would greatly like to see
them again, or even just hear their voice for a moment." He said.
"They understand the longing you and your siblings have to be with them again, but they ask you for your continued patience, it is a painful thing to know of an outcome where your children are divided, only for that pain to amplified when out of all the possibilities that is the one that comes to pass." They replied.
Falling silent for a moment and looking away, the reason for this reaction was because Gabriel like all of his kin felt guilty. Though each at one time or another put the blame onto one or a few of their family, none of them did anything to prevent the war or the growing tension that led to it.
"Right, that is perfectly understood, I'm sorry." He apologized.
"Again, no is no need to explain yourself Gabriel, but if it should bring you comfort there has been improvement as of late, we do not mean to instill false hope in you, but progress has finally begun to take shape, it may not be too much longer before more is realized." They revealed.
"That's...fantastic..." He said with as genuine a smile as he could form, "Then I shall ensure this current matter is handled without fail or issue, so no troubles will be waiting for them when they are ready to see us again." He said.
"They know that you will do all that is within your capability." They assured.
After that the Seraphim would go on to share with Gabriel the information he had sought, confirmation of whether or not the Slayer was part of some plan or prophecy the creator had set into motion. However to his surprise and dismay this was not the case, even when he questioned if they were certain the Seraphim swore that the creator had no hand in making him, all that he has become and has done was of his own free will. And while this did make things more confusing and complicated for the archangel, he still gave his thanks for their aid and took his leave. For now that he knew the creator had no hand in making the Slayer, that everything that was happening was solely because of his and the Maykrs' actions, this meant he would be allowed to do whatever was needed to ensure justice was served.
(The Present)
Urdak, a very peaceful and quiet place, with the only sounds that disrupt this tranquility coming from the work of the Maykr drones and angels. Yet even then the sounds they made were light hums and whirs of machines and devices, which managed to seamlessly meld with the setting to provide a calming atmosphere. It is for this reason and this reason alone that there was no mass hysteria, which was truly incredible given how many people had just entered its domain. Lucifer's circle like any of the circles had near billions of souls all inhabiting it, hence why even though in theory it was infinite there was a population problem.
This obviously raised the question of how all of them were brought there, how could so many people ranging in size, power, and physical state arrive in just a few minutes? This was accomplished by two specific powers at play, the first was the Sentinel soldiers and Exterminators that hadn't been sent to help the Slayer, they made sure to enter every building in their vicinity and get the people out. Then there was the second who helped make sure they all cooperated, the Khan herself whose power was unrivaled by anything in Lucifer's circle, not including him and his family of course. She would use it to provide them vision of what was transpiring at the hotel, an ability known as clairvoyance which most Heavenly figures possessed.
This is exactly why every demon cooperated with these unusually friendly Exterminators and
strange futuristic knights, for she showed them the beasts that were pouring into their home, and what terrible fate would befall them if they didn't leave. Even with this all said however there still might be a question one could ask, which would be if there was a population issue in Lucifer's circle, wouldn't that mean once they arrived in Urdak that same issue persisted? The simple answer to this was no, for all of the portals that had been opened led to their own structure or large piece of land that floated in the cosmos, this way no one would feel crowded and they could all be managed safely. Then there was the more complicated answer that even the Maykrs themselves were incapable of fully explaining, that for some reason their portion of Heaven was by far the largest, which made little sense as they were the only beings before now who inhabited it.
Even the souls from the universe they had been given after the war, as it was the same Doom had set its sights on, did not come to their realm but were instead sent to another portion governed by a different breed of Heavenborn. This was not on their minds right now however, but not just because no one was asking questions as they were left in awe by what surrounded them. Besides making sure everyone had arrived safely and that they were being talked to by Sentinel commanders, Exterminators, and Maykr angels altogether, their attention was on the reason for why this all was happening to begin with and what their next move should be.
"They're almost here." Samur spoke to the Khan as both waited in her garden, for Lucifer and the others were being brought to her.
"What of the Slayer? He did make it out correct?" She asked as she withdrew her wings, having unfurled them when she used her power.
"Yes, he was the last to leave the circle as a whole, I received word that he came through the portal a few seconds ago." He answered as he looked to her, "But I'm afraid only he arrived, as for Gabriel he had been struck down by the Cyber Demon, and given that it would have been reckless to leave the portal open for any longer there was nothing we could do." He informed.
Closing her eyes as a mix of frustration and sadness hit her, just like their champion though they had butted heads with the archangel up till now, neither of them would have ever wanted this to be his fate.
"This...is a tragic loss..." She said sincerely as her eyelids slowly parted, "I assume that the others are not yet aware of this information?" She asked.
"No, though they insisted on waiting for them to come through the portal as well, the angels we had ready to escort them to us took them immediately, so it is left to us or the Slayer to tell them." He answered.
"Then let it be him, it will take him a few minutes to join us, better we address their questions and concerns before they're overcome with emotion." She reasoned earning a nod in agreement from him.
Less than a minute later the lift to the garden would rise from below and arrive to its destination, and although they just like the rest of Lucifer's circle were scared and confused, it didn't keep them from marveling at the sight of everything around them, especially the Khan.
"Holy...fucking...god..." Angel Dust muttered to himself as they all stared up at her.
"Hello, welcome to Urdak, I am the Khan Maykr and this is my Seraphim Samur, I wish our meeting with you was under any other circumstances." She greeted as she and Samur approached.
"You're fucking huge lady..." Cherri said which brought a small brief smile to the Khan's face.
"I'm well aware my size is rather intimidating, but be rest assured you have nothing to fear from me or my kind, we are here to give you sanctuary and aid." She promised.
"Did everyone make it out okay? Was anyone killed or hurt or anything else like that?" Charlie asked as she stepped forward, even now her compassion for her people still as present as ever.
"Yes, if there is but one good thing to have come from this catastrophe it is that all of your people were evacuated quickly but carefully, though we cannot take all of the credit as it was only possible thanks to the Sentinels and Exterminators lending their assistance." She answered.
"So those were Exterminators, to think that they of all people would be helping us, you'd think they be eating popcorn watching the shit that just happened." Husk said.
"Many things have changed even outside of your circle, but now is not the time to discuss those developments, our focus should remain entirely on what is happening now." She replied.
"What about Gabriel?" Azrael asked no longer able to keep silent, "He and the Slayer were still there when we went through, have they arrived or are they still fighting?" She added.
A moment of silence happened as the Khan's throat suddenly tightened, she knew what they she had to tell them but she dreaded how horrible their reaction would be.
"They're still fighting aren't they?" Lucifer asked this time as he came forward, "I knew I shouldn't have left, I could be helping them right now and we all would've been back by now." He said.
"What could you have done Lucifer?" Lilith asked as she put a hand on his shoulder, "Even in your full form you would have been no match for that monster, unlike you Gabriel is a being of purity where as you are corrupt, I doubt even if you didn't hold back it would affect a creature who is made of raw sin." She told him.
"Your wife is right lord Lucifer, anything you could have sent its way would have only strengthened it, those made by the Dark One are not only immune to all corrupt and sinful energies, but any they come into contact with become one with their bodies and souls." Samur explained.
"I don't know why you're so worried to be honest." Blitzo admitted with a shrug of his shoulders, "And I'm not saying that to be an asshole but because he was with Will, ya know the guy who pretty much is like a walking meat grinder for those things? Sure the big one could hold his own but your brother seems pretty tough too, no way both of them combined couldn't handle it." He reasoned.
"He does make a good point, I mean Will has been killing those things back when he was still human, so take that and combine it with the fact he's now a literal god, he and your brother who is an archangel won't have any problems." Katie agreed.
In was in this moment before anyone else could say or do anything, that the lift which had descended back to the bottom after they arrived began ascending once more, causing them all to fall silent in anticipation of who was coming up. Then they saw it, at its center stood the Slayer with his hands at his side, but that was all that the lift was carrying.
"...Will..." Lucifer spoke with widened eyes as he approached him, his family and sister all sharing his expression of shock, "Where is Gabriel?...Is...is he dealing with other business?..." He asked, his voice already shaking by the end of that question.
Unlike the Khan or Samur the Slayer did not hesitate in telling them the truth, and while it was with but a simple shake of his head they knew exactly what it meant.
"No..." He barely whispered as he balled his hands into fists, "You're lying to me...there's...there's no way...that Gabriel..." He continued to deny not wanting it to be true.
Sadly as the Slayer stood there staring at him with an unblinking gaze, for the first time the devil had ever seen his eyes were not filled with rage, but instead a look of genuine empathy. Feeling tears come to his own which then poured out and fell down his cheeks, Lucifer dropped to his knees while his eyes moved to look at the ground in front of him. As for his family their reaction was practically the same as they had tears of their own, with the only difference being that Vagatha held Charlie close to her as she wept. Unfortunately they would not be granted even the slightest bit of time to grieve, for suddenly a bright blinding light enveloped them and the garden.
But as they all looked to its origin which was behind the Khan and Samur, only they, Azrael, and Lucifer would understand what they were seeing.
"Samur." Two beings made of pure radiance spoke with one voice, addressing not the Khan but her attendant instead, "We have come to retrieve what was given." They said.
(The Past)
"Samur." A voice spoke to the Maykr, beckoning him to come closer.
When the realm of Urdak was first made there was but one being that was present, remaining still as the cosmos that surrounded him moved like clouds through an endless sky. It was known simply as The Father, he was the only entity made directly by the creator alongside this new portion of Heaven, as what else would come to inhabit or fill the space was up to him. In a day he would make several different bodies of land that would serve as home to what came next, which was a race of Heavenborn that was unlike any that came before or after. They were known as the Maykrs, why The Father decided this only he knew, not even the first of his kind that was made by his hand directly, Samur, would ever have it be revealed to them.
This did not bother Samur or any of the other Maykrs though, for they shared The Father's intelligence and logic based sentience. Which meant that while not incapable of feeling emotions or other such sensations, they prioritized reason which allowed them to be completely pragmatic towards everything. So unlike any other race throughout creation even those of divine origin, they were by far the most focused and efficient species ever seen, accomplishing so much within such a short amount of time after their creation. Yet there was another strange difference between them and nearly every other Heavenborn, the Maykrs were not entirely ethereal and were actually corporeal to a certain degree.
Essentially they were like angelic cyborgs, with their wings and their energy being their souls which poured out of these vessels, while said vessels were a flawless melding of flesh and technology. But this came with an obvious side effect, even with all their technology and mastery of science gradual decay was inevitable, meaning that when the time came they would need to undergo a process to rejuvenate their forms. Yet this was not to be for The Father, he decided that a new leader of their race should come to be when this time came for himself, while his consciousness would be stored in a device that would help guide his successor. And while he shared this decision with every Maykr, only his attendant and first creation Samur would be allowed to know everything, as well as assist him however he could.
"Is it time Father?" He responded as he approached.
"Yes, I have waited long enough, as I am my body grows tired, the process must begin." The Father stated.
"Forgive me for questing you now of all times, but are you certain that this is the best course of action?" He asked.
"I understand your uncertainty Samur, this is something never before attempted in all of creation, let alone by the Maykrs." The Father replied as they began to leave the current room, "But we must think of every outcome, every possible scenario that may happen, the slightest oversight on our part could be devastating." He reminded him.
"I'm well aware of this fact, but there is also the possibility that things work out for the best, I know that may sound optimistic but that has just as much chance to happen as the worst." Samur replied.
"So are you saying our preparations are pointless?" The Father questioned.
"No, I'm sorry, I only said these things because...I'm going to miss you." He admitted.
"As will I you Samur." The Father replied as he looked to him, "It is has been so long since I have been able to spend time with any of my children, I am proud to have gotten this chance to bring life to another and see it become what you have, and I know that you will accomplish great things alongside those that follow after." He said.
Feeling a sad yet proud smile come to his face as those words reached him, soon both came to a stop as they were at their destination. Waiting for the doors to open they entered a darkened chamber, the only light currently present coming from the corridor which quickly disappeared when the doors closed behind them. But as they headed towards the room's center, a variety of different markings would begin to appear as the chamber came to life. Glyphs, Runes, and other such carvings were illuminated by the energy stored in this place, each one needed for the purpose this space was meant to serve.
And it is because of this purpose that Samur stopped moving, watching as The Father continued until he was perfectly in the middle of all the signs and symbols.
"Farewell Samur, I hope for the best." He spoke to him one final time before surrendering himself to the chamber.
Allowing it to do what was needed it drained his soul from his body, only lasting a few short seconds before it then fell to the floor as it was now but an empty husk. With that phase done it began the second, which was condensing the soul into a sphere like object that once complete would hover above the body. Waiting for the markings on the ground to lose their light and blend back into darkness, Samur approached the sphere and carefully took it into his hands. However his job was far from finished, as cautiously as he could he left the chamber to complete the task at hand, leaving behind the body to be dealt with later.
He traveled back to the room where they were initially, to place what could be called The Father's soul sphere into a machine. This device would serve as the matrix for both him and his successors, all of their minds being stored in one place to mentor each one that came after. Yet there was one more thing this apparatus could do, and by The Father's will he'd refrain from sharing that information with his successors, as they would learn of it once they joined the matrix. For this function was only to be used if out of all the outcomes he foresaw the worse came to pass, as only his mind and not his soul would be needed.
(The Present)
"What is going on?" The Khan questioned as she moved forward, looking to the two beings with a confused expression, "Why are you speaking to Samur only?" She added.
"Because I am the only one here who knows the truth." Samur answered as he turned to face everyone, "However it would take too long to explain it all with words, if you want answers to what is transpiring then you will follow me and the Seraphim, but if you do I must demand that you do not speak and remain absolutely silent." He told them.
After that had been said Samur and the other two Seraphim all went towards the lift, giving them a few moments to decide what they wanted to do. To no surprise everyone immediately came to join them, for even though they had many questions burning away in their minds, this was something that they couldn't afford to miss. Once they descended and were back on the ground floor they did as they were told, even the Khan kept silent as she followed behind with the others. Making their way through countless corridors, structures, and taking a few more lifts, soon they approached the oldest building in all of Urdak.
To the Maykrs this was the holiest ground, the place where The Father had first come to be and where he made all that filled their domain, including this temple that very few ever got to see the inside of. And while none who had come from Lucifer's circle or even Azrael knew this, they could still feel how sacred it was as they walked through its halls. But this feeling only got stronger as they went deeper and deeper, reaching its maximum once they were at a fairly wide set of twin doors. Watching as they opened surprisingly quickly they were met with the sight of very dark chamber.
Yet as their eyes adjusted to the darkness they noticed three figures standing in its center, and while their identities were hidden by the shadows, one thing they could discern was that one of them was drastically larger and taller than the other two.
"Wait...Samur..." The Khan spoke in a whisper with widened eyes, seeming to recognize who it was.
"My Khan please, remain silent." He requested of her as politely as he could, before going further into the room.
Though the others followed they decided it would be best to stop just a few feet away from the door, even the Slayer stood still as he and the Seraphim that came with him approached the three figures. But as their light illuminated the darkness and they could see who these individuals were, they saw two Maykr Seraphim who bore some resemblance to Samur, one in particular holding an object that was hidden by a cloth that covered it. Then there was the third that stood between them, though it was clear it was of Maykr origin given the design of its body, it was not like any Maykr that they'd ever seen.
However once it was seen by her she let out an audible gasp, her expression of shock worsening as her earlier assumption had been right. Despite this she held her tongue just as everyone else, watching them with unbridled curiosity and anticipation. The trio of Seraphim came to a stop in front of the others, Samur reached out and grabbed onto the cloth hiding the object, before then in one quick motion pulling it away. What was revealed the same as before left most of them speechless and in awe, only the Khan, the Slayer, Lucifer and his family knew what they were looking at.
But for Lucifer and his sister specifically they were shocked the most, for as they stared at what they knew was a soul there was an unmistakable familiarity to it, that only worsened their confusion. Thankfully they would finally receive clarity, for once Samur saw the object himself he gave a nod to his fellow Maykrs, which for them was his approval to carry out their task. Soon the
floor glowed with light through a vast variety of markings, and as it grew brighter the object was slowly absorbed by the figure between them, who during all of this had remained dormant. That is until the object was fully absorbed, as this happened then it came to life glowing with the same light, followed by the digits of its hands and its head beginning to twitch.
It took a few seconds more of this twitching and a few other slight movements before it settled, and once it did it straightened its posture so it could look to them.
"It is wonderful to see you all again." It spoke with a voice that caused their hearts to stop, "Up until now you have known me as Vega, but in truth I am The Father, both of the Maykrs and of all creation." He revealed.