All the slayer could see was bright blue surrounding him. Then, as suddenly as it appeared, it was gone.
The Hell Walker was quick to get his bearings and take note of where he was. The moment he did, he was almost surprised to find himself in a familiar location.
The Fortress of Doom.
An advanced, high-tech cathedral, built from ancient stone and advanced science from the design of the Sentinel Knights. Once used to scour the second galaxy the Slayer called home, to bring divine protection to those who were in need, and swift justice unto those who were deserving. It now served as the Slayer's surrogate home, granting him a place of solitude in between his endless war against the hordes of Hell.
The Slayer looked around his base of operations. He walked down onto the main deck, gazing at the large blue planet the fortress orbited through the spanning aperture of the bridge. The Hell Walker could clearly see that it was Earth, but he recognised that it was not one of the two Earths he had known. No doubt, it was the planet he was previously on, where he was previously goring the masses of men and machines before.
The slayer was quick to deduce that since this was a new Earth, that meant that he was in a new galaxy altogether. But the Hell Walker grew confused. If this was a new galaxy, then what was he doing here? What was the fortress doing here? And how did he even get back to the fortress in the first place?!
"/Hello, Slayer./"
The Slayer snapped his head in a random direction at the voice which spoke through his helmet. A voice he recognise all too well, as he clenched his fists tight and shook with building rage.
VEGA?
The 'Father'?
What the Hell was he doing here?!
"/By the sudden increase in your heart rate and blood pressure, I can deduce that you are upset, as much as you are confused, as to why I'm here./" The artificial intelligence, who turned out to be a deity that helped plunge his universe into a civil war between their Heaven and Hell, spoke in its natural, automated, and emotionless tone. "/I would be more than willing to explain myself if you are willing to listen./"
The Slayer made no effort to relinquish his anger, telling the AI without saying a word that it should do so…fast!
"/Thank you./" The god-turned-computer-programme obliged. "/After your battle with the Dark Lord, you were placed within the stone casket where Samuel first found you in Hell. Your battle in the Sentinel Universe was done. However, your war against Hell itself, the true Hell, would never cease./"
Damn right.
"/The Wraiths you awoke from within the World Spear in Argent D'Nur, transported you to this new universe with their power./" The ascendant AI continued. "/They were also the ones who transported the fortress of doom into this new Earth's orbit, believing you would need it for a sanctuary./"
The Slayer was losing his patience. That all explained how he and his Homebase got here, but not why the voice that helped manipulate him into nearly destroying the last Earth he was on was doing back inside his head!
"/Before they moved your fortress, they predicted that you would be in need of help for your endless crusade./" The digital deity went on, a hint of sombreness in its voice. "/The Wraiths sought me out in Urdak, and told me that I could once again aid you, as a form of redemption for my actions which led to the war. I accepted./"
"/I allowed the Wraiths to copy my essence, where they loaded me into the fortress's mainframe, before sending me and the fortress to you. When I arrived, I was able to pick up your location and use the tether system to bring you back, but only after you were done with your prior engagement./" The AI concluded.
The Slayer took a moment to digest everything the digital deity had told him. So, the Wraiths were the ones behind his awakening, along with sending the fortress and VEGA as well. However, the fact that one of the b*& who tried to use him in their 3D chess game to take control of the Sentinel Universe was stuck in his head once more, was still not sitting well with him.
"/I understand that you are sceptical about my being here, with much reason. However, I have learned from my prior actions, and only wish to be of service to you./" VEGA attempted to reason with the Hell Walker, who remained silent in his fury. "/If you do not wish for me to be here, I will immediately erase myself from your system. But I do hope that you would allow me to stay, as I hope for the chance of redemption. Not just for myself…but to you, as well/"
The Slayer's fist shook from his sheer fury…until he finally released his hand, relinquishing his anger.
He, more than anyone in existence, could understand wanting to make the wrong things right again. Memories flashed through his mind, of the Sentinel Knights he came to know as brothers. His wife and son, back from his home universe, who didn't see him as the crazed killing machine everyone else did, and loved him regardless.
And Daisy…sweet, little Daisy…
The Slayer raised his head. He silently decided that VEGA would be allowed to stay. But, if he got so much as an idea that the AI was trying to lead him down the wrong path again, the programme wouldn't just have to worry about being deleted…as he would then find a way back to Urdak, and do to the 'Father', what he did to the Dark Lord!
He was the Doom Slayer…He'd find a way!
"/…Understood. Thank you./" VEGA acknowledged, somehow understanding the Slayer's unspoken motives. "/With our personal business now settled, I believe it is time to re-focus on the matter at hand./"
The Slayer agreed. He strode over to the main control panel of the Fortress's control bridge. There, VEGA brought up a hologram of the planet they now orbited. "/I have scanned this new earth and have found strong traces of Argent Energy, located in nine locations across the world./"
The Slayer re-balled his fists at the mention of the accursed energy source. Argent Energy meant Hell, and Hell meant Demons, and Demons meant nothing good for the world they intended to invade.
"/I would advise that immediate termination of these nine Argent Sources be the proper approach./" VEGA advised. "/However, I have studied the history and political information of this earth, and have found that doing would cause…complications./"
The Doom slayer raised a barely seen eyebrow behind his helmet's visor. What was VEGA getting at?
"/It is the year 2017 AD of this universe's earth. It is currently divided by three ruling superpowers, who each monopolise a rare source of energy known as 'Sakuradite'./" The AI then showed the image of a sparkling pink mineral, radiating with energy.
"/These three powers are the Europia United, the Chinese Federation, and the Holy Britannian Empire./" Three symbols appeared in front of the holographic world, along with what regions they ruled highlighted with their assigned colour. The EU owned everything in yellow, which included Europe, England, Africa, and almost half of the Middle East. The Chinese had control over what was left of East Asia, as well as India, Thailand, and the Solomon Islands.
Last of all was Britannia, who ruled over nearly just about everything else, including New Zealand, the Philippines, and Japan.
…with their homeland being what should have been the United States of America.
The Slayer felt his stomach churn at the sight of that.
"/Britannia is currently the most powerful of the three, being the most dominant military force in this world./" The image of the Britannian flag took over from the other two, showing a bright blue background with a red cross, a shield over its centre, where a winged snake and lion stood side-by-side.
The image of the flag reflected in the Slayer's visor. Britannia, huh? So, those were the mass-murdering f&*ks who he was killing by the dozens only a few moments ago…good.
"/With each country they conquer, they strip away their name, culture, freedoms, and identity, re-labelling the conquered nation as a numbered 'Area' in when they were defeated, with the nation's populace being forced to take up said number as their new identity. For example, the nation of Japan was conquered in 2010 AD, and was renamed 'Area 11', and its citizens are now referred to as 'Elevens'./"
The Slayer balled his fists up once more. He was not liking what he was hearing one bit.
"/They were able to do this with the help of their newly crafted military weapons, known as 'Knightmare Frames, powered by Sakuradite itself./" VEGA then brought up footage of the same mech robots the Slayer was fighting prior. They easily dominated the battlefield with their superior size, speed, and firepower, eliminating their enemies before they could even get a shot in.
"/I believe the main reason as to why Britannia first launched their global conquest was to lay claim to the nine Argent Power Sources, whatever their intentions may be./" The AI concluded, shutting down the hologram of earth and leaving the slayer to his thoughts for a moment.
So, this was the reason why he was here. Once again, a bunch of dumb$%^es were trying to use Argent Energy for their stupid, selfish reasons. Only this time, it wasn't of a bunch of two-faced fallen angel b £ches, and a high-and-mighty Hellborn d$ wearing an overcompensating power suit. It was a nation of self-glorified fascists who wanted to put everything and everyone beneath them.
The notion remained the Slayer of something from long ago, back before he was the Bane of Hell.
Before, he went by a human name; Flynn Taggart. When Flynn was a boy, his father told him of one of their family's distant, most infamous ancestors.
William Joseph Blazkowicz.
Or as the Nazi Regime once called him… The 'Terror Billy'.
During the Second World War on his home earth, 'B. J.' Blazkowicz was known as a one-man army. A beast on the battlefield. A nightmare to all who followed under the black swastika. His exploits were considered war crimes, from the inhuman methods he used to slaughter and savage his enemies. He carved the meaning of fear deep into the hearts of the Nazi party, making them all wish they had never been born.
And it looked like it was time for the Doom Slayer, to follow in good ol' grandpa's footsteps.