Harsh Language warning. Seriously... it's bad.

Also, sorry about the long delay. This chapter was fun to write, but man was it a challenge. At least it's a long one...

The two men wisely chose to put the Guardian of Metal in the back of the Kill Master's Thunderhog, leaving Eddie free to drive like a maniac and 'accidentally' run down innocent wildlife. At one point, a Tollusk decided to take a swipe at the bike, but it was quickly deterred by one of the Deuce's missiles. Otherwise the ride was short and uneventful.

"Don't you think it's odd that the song to contact Heaven is called Hellraiser?" Eddie was leaning with an arm draped over the head of the landmark viewer as he watched the Kill Master meticulously tune his guitar.

Not looking up from the job at hand, the Kill Master said, "Can't say I do, seeing as the Heaven the Gods are in is a realm of fire and brimstone."

"Seriously?" Eddie was kind of impressed. "Then what does the actual Hell look like?"

"They say that deep underground there's a pit of molten rock, presided over by metal giants and a half-mad demonic spirit." He said this simply, like he was talking about the weather.

Eddie's eyes were shifting around in a conspicuous attempt to appear inconspicuous. "Uh... sounds badass."

Luckily the Kill Master was too busy to notice. "Course it's a load of bullshit. It was started by some headbanger who got lost in the old tunnels and went 'round the bend."

"Huh, poor guy." Eddie gave up on watching the older man and instead stared up at the huge monolith they were currently shadowed by. "You know, I always thought this place was special," he said more to himself than his companion.

"That why you come here with your bird?" The Kill Master smirked when the young man's face started to turn red. "Don't act like everyone doesn't know what you and Ophilia do out here," he said with a chuckle. Before Eddie could respond, he straightened up and rolled his shoulders. "That should about do it. We need an amp? Or do I just play?"

"He didn't say," answered Eddie. "Try it without, and if nothing happens we'll hook you up to the hog."

With a nod, and a quick adjustment of his hat, the Kill Master launched into his solo.

Eddie bobbed his head as he listened. His friend truly was a master, and he swore he could almost hear the rest of the band behind every note. The Kill Master was a sight to behold as well. Usually when he played he was calm and methodical, operating at a level of concentration that even the heat of battle couldn't break. Now though, he was completely rocking out, his teeth bared as he threw his heart and soul and everything else he had into the power of the music. It was towards the end, when sweat rolled down his face from the effort that Eddie realized how important this song was to him.

He finished in a flurry of light effects and stood panting, his hands dropping from his instrument to hang at his side.

Eddie looked around and up at the sky, but... nothing. "I guess we need to try it with an amp," he said.

"Alright," said the Kill Master as Eddie went to his bike and started to pull out cords to hook his bass up to his speakers. "I only got one more in me, though. That song takes a lot outa... you..." He trailed off as a flake of red hot ash floated in front of his face. When he looked up, he froze, his mouth hanging open.

Eddie, who was crouched down with his back turned, was oblivious. "Hey, I just thought of something," he said as continued tinkering. "If this big cross is some sort of conduit, and Ophelia and I... you know... did do stuff under it, does that mean the Gods could've been watching the whole time?"

"Eddie..."

"Yeah?" He wiped at a bit of ash that landed on his shoulder, then paused as he finally noticed it was raining ash. Now that thought about it, there was an eerie red cast over everything as well. He turned around to see that the Kill Master was staring at the sky and looked up himself. "Holy shit!"

The entire sky was opened up like a grand window, and within it stood a man of epic proportions, his arms crossed and a grim frown upon his face. His head was easily as big as one of the Mt. Rockmore effigies, and he was brawny enough that he could probably have lifted the iron cross they stood in the shadow of and carried it under one arm. Shoulder length, inky hair blew out from beneath his horned helmet and a long leather jacket billowed about him along with the wild flames that filled his realm. On his face was a well trimmed goatee and a pair of oval framed sunglasses that reflected an etherial white light, and around his neck he wore a single cross on a chain.

He was without a doubt the most metal thing that Eddie had ever seen... a Titan... a God of Metal.

The monolithic being leveled his gaze on the Kill Master and said, "That was some solid playing," in a voice that echoed throughout the earth and sky at the threshold of what would be painful to the men far below.

The Kill Master, unsure of how to respond the that, said the only thing he could get out, "...thanks."

"Now, what the fuck do you want?"

"Uh... not me.". The Kill Master pointed behind himself at Eddie. "It's him that wanted you." He had to give the roadie a nudge to snap him out of his fanboyish stupor.

"What? Oh yeah! Hi!" Eddie was drawing a blank as to what he was supposed to say. "I... uh..."

It didn't help that the God looked right pissed off. "Out with it you little cocksucker," he boomed calmly. "And it better not be another prayer for more fucking beer trees or I swear to... myself that I will smite your asses from here to Valhalla."

Before Eddie even opened his mouth, another Godly voice broke in. "Stop fucking with the mortals you almighty ass-hat." The first God was shoved aside by a second, taller, much skinnier deity who took one look at the now thoroughly confused men and said, "Awe, they're so fucking cute!"

This one was wearing tight ripped jeans and a sleeveless denim jacket over a black T-shirt that had 'Metal God' written on it in letters made to look like blood soaked blades. His face was obscured by the cascade of brown curls flowing from under his helmet, but his mouth was still visible and smiling. He was every bit as imposing as his counterpart, but at least he seemed friendlier.

The first God shouldered the other over so that both of them were looming through the sky... portal... thingie. "Lazy wankers is what they are."

"Ah, don't mind him," the second God said to the men. "He turns into a dickhead when he's on prayer duty. Fucking hates it he does."

"And I don't know how the fuck you don't! All that's happened is this cocksucker starting that pussy revolution we saw coming a millennia ago! This job is boring shit man."

"Fuck off." the second God said with a dismissive wave. He turned his attention back to Eddie. "So! What can we do for ya?"

"Uh..." The humble roadie really had no idea how you were supposed to talk to a God, so he threw up the sign of the horns with both hands and said, "Oh mighty and awesome Gods, I was sent to you by your servant, the Guardian of Metal, with an important message. Actually you should probably help him first if you can." He pointed to the Guardian who was still lying unconscious in the Thunderhog.

The second God leaned forward, and right put of the portal, to get a closer look. "Well Fuck me pink and call me Sherry! It's the Shit Disturber!" He straightened up and looked to his partner. "How the Fuck did he get out?"

The First God said, "Give me a minute," as he moved out of view. He was back a few seconds later yelling, "You destroyed my barrier? You freed Ozzrael?"

"Well I couldn't just leave him there to die!" Eddie defended, then after a moment he added "...wait. Ozzrael?"

The God ignored that last part and said, "He can't die you fucking moron."

"He said he's dying!" Eddie pointed to the Guardian in question.

The second God said, "He does look like shit."

But the first ignored him as well. "Then he was fucking with you. I suppose he told you to help him destroy the shit out of Motor Forge as well, hmm?"

"No. He did that on his own," answered Eddie. "He said he had to in order to fight off the whatchamacallits... the uh... the genocidal bastards. That was the message. He said you have to lift the funky curse on them so you can tell me what the fuck they are."

Both of the Gods were speechless, and the second one even went a few shades paler. He looked to his partner and swallowed thickly. "Could it be? After all this time..."

"It would explain a few things, like why I didn't fucking notice a thing. We've never been able to see those bastards properly.". He then addressed Eddie. "And you say this fucker," he jabbed a finger towards the Guardian, "actually fought them?"

"Yeah," Eddie nodded, "and he used up all of his own power to do it, which is why he's dying and stuff now." He then went on to explain everything that had happened since the day before, stressing the fact that the Guardian had wanted to be left behind in Motor Forge and that it was Eddie's idea to break him out.

When he was done, the second God ran a hand through his hair and said, "That crazy son of a bitch would've had to fight the seal. No wonder it damn near killed him." He looked to his partner with a wary smile. "Why don't we cut him a break? I think he's fucking earned it."

The first God was still a moment, a hand stroking his chin as he thought. Finally he said, "You take care of it. You're better at this healing shit than I am... and remove the seal as well."

The second God had pulled a red, double-necked guitar out of nowhere when he did a double-take. "Seriously?" When the other nodded he grinned, showing off all of his godly, white teeth. His instrument already in perfect tune, he launched into a solo crafted from powerful chords and monumental riffs that fell in a heavier tone than the thickest bass strings in the world could produce. As he picked up momentum the men on the ground felt a thrill up their spines as a tingling spread thick through their extremities like hard liquor. The Guardian was soon surrounded by a Red aura that whirled like a wildfire.

In the same motion as the striking of the final note the God threw his hand into the air, index finger and pinkie out in the sign of the horns. The whole display was so epic... so metal, that Eddie had to suppress the urge to scream like an overwhelmed groupie.

The glow around the Guardian faded, including the one that had emanated from his wrist bangles. Eddie held his breath, expecting the being to wake up and start cursing, but nothing happened. The Guardian didn't stir.

"Uh... did it work?" asked Eddie.

The second God put away his guitar and said, "Of course it worked. Unfortunately I can't do shit about all the life stuff he lost, so expect him to be out for a few days." He asked the other God, "So what the fuck do we do with him now?"

The first God pointed at Eddie and said, "You, Son of Three, you play guitar?"

"What's a-"

The God cut him off. "Shut the fuck up and memorize that solo!"

"What so...lo..." he trailed off as he realized that the iron cross was now adorned with fiery music notes that weren't there before, and that instantly burned themselves into his memory the same way the other solos did.

"This being you know as the Guardian of Metal was once a very dangerous motherfucker, and in the time before they inherited this world, our ancestors, the Titans, figured out the only way to deal with him was to capture his ass."

"Stop talking shit!" the second God butted in. "It's Ozzrael's story to tell, man."

With a sigh, he went on. "They did this by way of a mark that sealed his power and bent it to their will. Now the mark will never fade, but my friend here has just removed the seal from it. He's free as a Goddamned bird, and you get the responsibility of stopping him should he ever turn into the raging dick head he once was. Playing that song in his vicinity will reactivate the seal and bind him in place."

"I don't know if I like having that kind of power over someone," Eddie confessed.

The second God said, "You will if he fucking turns on ya, but I don't really think that'll happen."

"The bastards that attacked Motorforge are known as the Black Host," the first God went on. "I've lifted the taboo on them, so Ozzrael here can give you the rundown when he wakes up."

Eddie was a little alarmed by this. "But aren't you gonna explain them to me? What if they attack before he wakes up?"

"They won't be interested in you yet," answered the second God. "Well... they might be interested in you, but humans in general should be safe for awhile."

The first God said, "And we've already explained too much... done too much. It's not our way." He reached out and grabbed an edge of the sky in each hand, pulling them closed like a curtain. When the portal was almost closed, he paused. "Tell Ozzrael he can keep his job if he likes, and if he doesn't want to help you, tell the fucker it's conditional to his freedom."

"Hey, I don't wanna twist his arm or anything."

"You might have to if you want to survive this. You won't fucking make it without him." With that, the God closed the sky.

As it shut, the second God's voice floated through. "Oh! And say hi to that hot bird of yours!"

The last bits of grey ash fell to Earth, leaving Eddie feeling like he did when he stepped out into an empty parking lot after an awesome concert. He heaved a great, contented sigh.

The Kill Master broke the moment by saying, "Well... now my life is complete." He went to his Thunderhog and started packing up his bass.

"If I knew Heaven was like that, I would have tried harder to get in!" Eddie was still staring wistfully at the clouds.

"Get in? What nonsense are you barking now?"

Eddie turned to the Kill Master, who was now astride his gigantic bike. "You know. Do good stuff, and when you die, you get into Heaven. That's how it works, right?"

The Kill Master shook his head. "Never heard that before. The only ones in Heaven are the Gods. Anything else and their souls'd burn away."

"Really? Then what happens after you die?"

"You get buried if your lucky," the Kill Master shrugged. "You get eaten by wild animals if you're not."

"Harsh," said Eddie. He climbed into the Deuce and started it up, ancient music suddenly flooding the hill from its Mouth of Metal. Eddie turned it off. "I guess we better head back to Bladehenge."

"We taking him?" the Kill Master asked. He jerked his head towards the Guardian.

"You heard the Gods. And it's not like he has anywhere else to go." The roadie turned his music back on and slammed his car into gear.

The Kill Master watched the younger man roar off. "Lita's not going to like this," he said. He revved his own engine and took off after Eddie.

Hidden amongst some old ruins, a trio of Tick Choppers hid and watched the men drive away.

"What did you call me here for?" asked a grizzled old Warfather as he walked up to them.

The three quickly shushed him and one of them said, "It's the Axe Man and the Kill Master. They were talkin' to the Gods!"

If the Warfather was surprised by this, his expressionless, skull of a face didn't show it. "Did you catch what was being said?"

Another one of the Ticks said, "Too far. And the Axe Man would've killed us if we got closer."

"Does this mean the Humans've gained favor?"

"Have the Gods forsaken us?"

The old demon put his hands up to calm them. "I do not know," he said, "but rest assured I will tell the emperor of this... incident. You three continue watching this location, and if anyone else approaches you are to send word immediately." With that he turned on his heel and vanished.

Sorry I had to give the Guardian of Metal a name. I just couldn't keep calling him the Guardian so I went with the best fit I could think of. Please don't hate me... :(