The atmosphere within the Ivory Tower could be summarized with one word: Hectic. A lot was going on, from the startled persons awoken with blaring trumpet sounds to the excitement and curiosity surrounding the revived Vega. Of course, Samuel and Samur quickly settled everything and caught the formerly unconscious up to where they were. As for where Doomguy was during these events, he was readying himself for the mission ahead.
After about an hour, everyone was on the same page, and no questions remained. However, the discussion regarding Urdak and Khan's liberation had just begun. And many had quite a lot to say about it...
"You are NOT going in there alone!" Angel Dust exclaimed while pointing at Doomguy. In response, the space marine ignored him. His attention was on his weapons which he was giving a final check.
"Angel. He's the only one who can easily fight them." Samuel replied. As Doomguy ensured his gear was to his specifications, he and Samur were fielding all concerns, questions, and statements from the others.
"What about me? Surely I could be of assistance." Gabriel proposed with a hand laid on his chest.
"Absolutely not." Samur denied it instantly. "The only ones here with experience dealing with these monsters are myself and him. No one else will be sent to Urdak. It'd be the same as suicide." He firmly told them.
"No offense, sir, but many of us can hold our own," Moxxie mentioned.
"Being good with a firearm doesn't amount to anything. The Demons easily slaughtered my security staff, who were expertly trained soldiers. Granted, some were killed instantly when the invasion began due to unforeseen faults in their suits' designs, but the facts remain the same. The Mars complex was well supplied with weaponry and capable defenses. Yet still, it fell in less than an hour. All of you are skilled and powerful in different and similar ways, but it doesn't matter in their presence." Samuel stated.
"So, what? Are we just supposed to stand on the sidelines all the time? Watch as Doomguy throws himself into a mosh pit of gnashing teeth and swinging claws?" Cherri questioned.
"For now, yes," Samur confirmed. At this point, Doomguy was through examining his guns and equipment. They'd begin to disappear as he stored them in his new suit, identical to his previous one. "But worry not. Now that there are no more secrets and we are a united front, we will begin to prepare ourselves for our foes. This includes helping those who wish to fight do so." He promised.
Upon hearing that, Doomguy slowly turned to look at Samur. He didn't need to write anything or speak via sign language. His unseeable stare said everything it needed to.
"I know you have issues with this, sir." Samur began, turning to face him. "But we are against an endless enemy. You are fast and efficient, strong and resilient. However, every time you finish a fight with the Demons, they're already returning to life thanks to their master. Slaughter millions upon millions more, and you won't make a dent. And if you think about countering my reasoning by suggesting you target the source, Doom itself, don't. You'd never be able to find its soul on your own. Even if you did manage it, it'd move around and evade you forever. We need numbers. We'll never match or surpass Doom's, but we can form enough to make a proper resistance." He told him.
Everyone waited to see how Doomguy would reply. He stared at Samur, but none could tell what he was thinking. Eventually, he resumed storing his gear, allowing Samuel and Samur to continue conversing with the others.
"Damn. Staring down, God. I'm surprised the man's suit isn't tight around the crotch." Husk said with a whistle.
"A poet, you are Husker. Such a way with words." Alastor jested.
"Ahem." Samuel sounded, getting the attention back on him and Samur. "If you are so worried about my associate's safety, perhaps it'll help ease you if Samur explains the circumstances that await him?" He suggested.
"Ah, yes. A fine idea, Samuel." Samur agreed before proceeding. "As you've been told, when Urdak fell, Khan was placed into the Divinity. In addition to putting her in a state of stasis, this machine uses her soul as a power source to create the golden barrier surrounding Urdak. The Demons can enter the barrier and, by extension, Urdak, but every second spent within it harms them. They have heavily augmented creatures, such as the Arachnotron or the Revenant, but they can only make it so far before succumbing to death. Thankfully, Doom has never explored fully-artificial monsters. Even if they did, they'd undoubtedly be powered by Demonic souls, which would still take severe damage before ultimately being forced to retreat to Doom. So, upon Doomguy's arrival, he will be met with no opposing force. By the time he reaches Khan, after establishing a proper connection point for Vega, Vega will have the majority, if not all, of Urdak's defenses restored. This will provide invaluable support for Doomguy and allow Vega to focus on caring for Khan and restoring the remainder of Urdak's technology and systems. Regarding repairs, we'll send in drones where they are needed through small portals that'll only last a second or two. This will prevent the Demons and Doom from reacting to them and attempting to invade the tower." He informed them. "Any questions?" He asked.
"I have one, Father," Lucifer spoke, surprising most. "Is it sensible to assume that Doom could have a massive army waiting outside Urdak? Not due to being aware of our intentions, but because it is ready for the moment the barrier no longer exists." He inquired.
"I wouldn't put it past them. There could be a legion of Doom's strongest horrors waiting at the edge of the barrier." Samur said.
"Assuming that it is true, could you handle that?" Lucifer questioned, now looking at Doomguy. "You've dealt with them in great numbers, but what if a tidal wave of Doom's largest and most powerful monsters came at you from all sides? Even with Urdak's defenses, is it possible to defeat a force of that scale?" He asked.
Like before, Doomguy did nothing for a few seconds. The concern Lucifer presented was legitimate. Doomguy had dealt with hordes and small legions in single battles. However, if Urdak was surrounded, and the present Demons consisted of Mancubi, Barons, Cacodemons, Hell Knights, and Archviles, while the space marine could protect himself, he wasn't sure about Khan.
"If I may," Vega interjected. With his sentience in the tower, his voice came from all sides, so everyone could easily hear him. "I believe I have a solution to the problem Lucifer has put forward. However, it would require administering several enhancements in un-tested quantities. Even with Doomguy's immense durability and compatibility with them, this does pose a significant risk." He stated.
"Enhancements? Are you referring to drugs?" Angel Dust asked, only to quickly throw up his hands. "AND BEFORE ANYONE SAYS ANYTHING! NO, THAT'S NOT A JOKE! My mind went to drugs because it'd be crazy if he's talking about robot parts like some of the Demons have." He explained to avoid people making assumptions.
"Allow me to answer that, Vega," Samuel told his creation before addressing Angel's question. "The enhancements he mentioned are another invention achieved by the UAC. During his many conflicts with the Demons, my partner encountered several different types of energy his enemies employed to empower themselves. However, like anything with Doom, it was unrefined. Being blunt for a moment, it's a genuine miracle that these energies didn't kill my associate when he was still a normal mortal. Yet, like the creation of Argent, the UAC, after discovering these powers, refined them for better use. Berserk. Haste. Invulnerability. Quad Damage. Each one should be fairly easy to understand from its name alone. During the invasion of Mars, my partner encountered some that had escaped due to damages done to their containment. With Vega's mind and memory intact, he could use some of the Argent we've brought to the tower to make more. My associate will then store them in his suit, like the rest of his equipment, and use them when needed." He explained.
"Okay. But Vega said that Doomguy would have to use them in un-tested quantities. How harmful could that be?" Vagatha inquired.
"Vega, have you already run simulations?" Samuel asked.
"I have. To easily fend off a force of an unprecedented number of Demons comprised of Doom's strongest, Doomguy would need to absorb one of two combinations. Berserk and Haste. Quad Damage and Haste. Haste would be too essential to exclude. Invulnerability is also an option but should only be considered in an extreme scenario, given the dosage of the other agents. Regarding the amount, it would need to be at least ten times the normal use of either power." Vega informed them.
"...Out of curiosity..." Michael began, a thought slowly forming in his mind. "What...is the effect on someone who isn't Doomguy? What would happen if one dose of any of these powers was given to a human or even one of God's children?" He asked.
"The effect is dependent on the power received. For Berserk, you'd be overcome by psychosis and rage accompanied by a rapidly increasing bodily temperature. Furthermore, driven by your sudden insanity, you'd seek to harm, kill, and destroy everything around you. Should there be no targets and your actions cannot affect your surroundings, you would kill yourself by violently ripping apart your body. However, it wouldn't be to escape your newfound lust for carnage and bloodshed. You wouldn't feel pain as you tore the skin from your muscles, your muscles from your bones, and your self-inflicted evisceration. Even as a mangled corpse lying on the ground, your departing soul would remain under Berserk's effect for a considerable time. Yet, if you were like Doomguy and could control this power, it would give you immeasurable strength that increases over the duration. Allowing you to rip and tear your enemies until they are but a collection of undistinguishable viscera." Vega answered.
As Vega spoke, everyone's eyes slowly widened. By the time he was done, they all stared at Samuel. Surprisingly, the first person to say something wasn't one of the likely suspects. Instead, it was a certain Princess.
"WHAT WAS THE UAC DOING WITH THAT?!" Charlie shouted.
"You...have to understand..." Samuel started, letting out a sigh as he did. "We were trying to make all of what Doom could provide safe for humanity. The purification of its energy to make Argent was a painless endeavor. Everything else, not so much." He said.
"HOW DID YOU EVEN LEARN WHAT IT COULD DO?! DID YOU CONDUCT HUMAN EXPERIMENTS?!" Charlie persisted, continuing to shout due to the horror and shock of this revelation.
"...They were volunteers..." Samuel slowly answered. "...Mostly..." He added, trying to be quiet about it.
Chu-Chuck
That sound prevented an uproar from transpiring. Everyone's attention was diverted from Samuel to Doomguy, who now held a pumped and ready shotgun.
"DON'T YOU DARE MOVE A FUCKING MUSCLE, MISTER!" Nifty, of all people, was the one to say that to the space marine. She rarely swore with such aggression and passion, but this situation called for it.
In response, Doomguy...IGNORED HER?! The audacity of this armored man with a shotgun in hand! He attempted to walk away from the group. His destination? The gateway they had arrived from.
FWOOSH
Faster than she had ever been before, Nifty appeared before Doomguy. Her hands were on her hips, and she stared upward at the space marine. His intimidating presence and stare would not affect her!
"WHAT DID I SAY?!" Nifty continued to yell, now pointing at him. "You are NOT going to potentially KILL yourself by overdosing on these so-called power-ups! I do not care how badass and cool you are!" She told him.
For a few seconds, Doomguy humored the mono-eyed woman. Unfortunately, he'd seen scarier things even before he met Doom. So, he casually strolled past-
FWOOSH
Again, Nifty used her speed to prevent his departure. However, she tried a different tactic. The fiery redhead now sat atop Doomguy's shoulders. Her arms and legs were wrapped around his helmet.
"GO ON, THEN!" Nifty challenged him, already tightening her grip. "I'M NOT LETTING GO!" She vowed.
Well, this certainly was a pickle. Wait, no, it wasn't. Doomguy, without hesitation, stored his shotgun, grabbed onto her and his helmet, then removed both simultaneously. With Vega's reincarnation, he wouldn't need to switch his weapons and summon equipment manually. The AI could assist in those tasks.
Surprisingly, Nifty didn't offer an objection as Doomguy did this. For a fleeting second, he was confused by the lack of reaction. But when the space marine set her on the ground, he understood why. It was written for all to see on Nifty's face.
The poor woman was doing her best to maintain a stern expression. Her brow was furrowed, and her glare piercing. Yet, the rest of Nifty betrayed this image. Her arms lightly shook as she held onto his helmet, and her big yellow eye was fighting a losing battle with a forming tear.
Yet, it was what came next that hit Doomguy the hardest. It managed to break through his steadfast resolve and reach the soul buried beneath.
"Do...you want to die?..." Nifty asked. She continued to maintain her composure the best she could. She wouldn't allow herself to become a sobbing mess. "I get it...the Demons are powerful...but are you doing this because there's no other way...or because you're not afraid of getting killed or harming yourself, so long as they're defeated?..." She pressed.
Doomguy spent the next minute thinking. No one else said anything; Nifty had perfectly voiced their concerns and thoughts. It was apparent to everyone that Doomguy was obsessed, WELL beyond an unhinged degree, with killing the Demons and destroying Doom. In fairness, his fixation and drive were entirely justified.
Even so, Nifty's questions were without fault. Did Doomguy perceive himself as a potentially expendable tool in service of Doom's demise? Wven if he didn't want to die, as Nifty pointed out, it was abundantly clear that he didn't mind self-harm. If anything, Doomguy was in favor of it. So long as it contributed to the only thing that seemed to matter to him.
"...There is an alternative," Vega spoke, catching all by surprise. "Before you assume I inappropriately waited to share it, I hadn't explored other possibilities that didn't focus solely on Doomguy. But, should Samur permit it, there is something we could attempt to aid him from the tower." He said.
"Please, Vega, share it with us." Samur requested. He and the others were curious and eager to know more.
"An essential part of this plan is to stream energy from the tower into Urdak's systems. However, after thoroughly examining your information on the Divinity, I believe it can be repurposed to create a new barrier. Once Khan has been safely removed from the apparatus, of course." Vega told them.
"No, that won't work." Samur sighed. "If it could, I would've done so LONG ago. The issue lies with the tower's type of energy. I could not produce the same level of Divine essence as Khan, nor could I exceed it. Merely approaching such an amount would be like lighting a lamp to attract moths." He explained, only to raise his hand to prevent anyone from speaking. "Yes, I know that because of recent events, Doom has been made aware of our reality. However, it is still ignorant of my existence. But if we produced even the MINIMUM amount of Divine essence required to make this plan work, the Demons could easily discern the precise location of the tower. They'd also realize that the only entity with knowledge of Urdak and how to create such a quantity of that energy would be a Maykr. In conclusion, the risks are FAR too great." He finished.
"Not if we use Argent." Vega corrected. The alternative hadn't occurred to Samur as he had yet to examine Argent. However, from his observation of the Mars invasion, he knew of its potent effects on the Demons.
"...Samuel. " Samur spoke after a few seconds of contemplation. "Is there enough Argent present to achieve this?" He inquired.
"There is," Samuel confirmed. "Furthermore, with a source originating from Urdak, there'd be no way for them to trace it back to here." He continued before looking at Doomguy. "However, eventually, we would need to resupply the Divinity. But I know that someone has a strong stance against that notion." He concluded.
Once more, all eyes were on Doomguy. Immediately, they could see hatred in his eyes. Yet, it wasn't necessarily aimed at Samuel. Rather, the idea he put forth.
Doomguy truly did hate ANYTHING to do with Doom. Even if Argent WAS safe, it came from Doom. It made him sick to his stomach and boiled his blood.
"Doomguy, please," Nifty spoke, causing him to look at her again. "We don't want you to hurt yourself if there's another way. Please." She pleaded.
"I second that!" Charlie exclaimed while raising her hand. "If we can do this without impacting your health, we should!" She insisted.
"Yeah, sorry, big guy. But I'm on their side, too." Angel Dust chimed in with his arms crossed.
"So am I," Octavia said while stepping forward. "You've been through enough. You don't need to make yourself suffer anymore." She told him.
Without more words, the others agreed either with nods or by locking eyes with Doomguy. They understood his hesitation with Argent. But this would allow him to remain safe without additional risks or complications to their goal. Logically, this was the best option.
So, in reply, Doomguy reached down, took his helmet from Nifty, put it back on, and rejoined the group. When he did this, Nifty went back to where she once stood. Only now, she looked at the space marine with an appreciative smile and a no longer teary eye.
"It's settled, then. Vega, please explain our new course of action." Samuel requested.
"At once, Doctor Hayden," Vega responded before proceeding.
...
...
Doomguy stepped out of the portal slowly. He assessed his surroundings, ensuring no problems or potential hostiles were nearby. Once he was certain of its safety, he looked behind himself through the rift he exited and nodded his head. Telling the others that looked on from within the tower that they could sever the connection.
Fwoom
With a quiet noise, the portal closed. Normally, it was rarely heard amidst conversation and other various sounds. But the unsettling tranquility of the environment made it more noticeable. Even so, Doomguy's attention remained on what lay ahead.
Urdak, The Origin of Creation. As described by Samur, it was breathtakingly beautiful. What remained of the formerly endless cosmos was contained in Khan's barrier. It comprised a myriad of colors and celestial wonders. Sadly, this wasn't the time for self-indulgent observations.
"Communication has been established." The voice of Vega spoke to Doomguy from within his helmet.
"Ah. Wonderful. There seem to be no issues in the transmission." Samur said before focusing on the mission. "Your current position is near the first building of Urdak. The structure was constructed to be Khan's home. It seemed only fitting to build the Divinity there." He informed the space marine.
Nodding to show he understood, Doomguy began his approach. He searched his surroundings for, well, anything. Ignoring the fantastic flora and mechanical marvels, Doomguy anticipated Demon and Maykr corpses. Or, at the very least, splatters of dried blood and scattered bodily pieces.
"Khan's barrier cleansed Urdak's grounds." Samur began, noticing Doomguy's wandering gaze. "Sadly, their souls were still claimed by Doom. I cannot even take comfort that their bodies weren't transformed into grotesque abominations." He stated.
Doomguy empathized with Samur. They might be the only people who could relate to one another. Each watched the ravenous fiends of Doom consume their worlds. The only difference was Khan, Samur, and the Maykrs' tactical approach. Whereas Doomguy quickly picked up a serrated power tool and cut through the hordes.
Although, there was another contrasting detail that made them different. As Samur continued to protect Creation from Doom's ceaseless growth and advance, he created a family. Samur managed to find happiness and make a life for himself. Despite saying the contrary, to an extent, Samur moved on.
But Doomguy never did. The Demons were as obsessed with him as he was with them. In each other, they found an eternal enemy.
"You're almost there," Samur informed the space marine, interrupting his thoughts. "Soon, you'll reach a massive door leading into the building. Once there, Vega will attempt to divert some of the Divinity's power to that entrance to allow you through. If he can't, you'll have to use more forceful methods." He stated.
Like before, Doomguy nodded to show he understood. From where he was, he could see the door Samur referred to. As for the structure, it was as gorgeous and impressive as the rest of the Maykr's inventions and architecture that was in Doomguy's immediate line of sight.
"...Samur," Vega unexpectedly spoke. "Did the Maykrs construct any autonomous machines?" He inquired.
"More than could ever be counted. They were very useful in our battle against Doom. But before repurposing for combat, they were essentially playthings and robotic pets to us." Samur replied. "Why the sudden curiosity? Have you detected them while scanning the area?" He asked.
"I believe so. However, they do not match the rest of the Maykr designs. Furthermore, they are the only active devices apart from the Divinity." Vega answered.
Instantly, Doomguy stopped in his tracks. Meanwhile, Samur was silent. That statement got their attention. It didn't sit well with either one.
"...Vega...nothing in Urdak...should still be functional..." Samur slowly revealed. "The blast created by Khan's soul being sent outward from the Divinity destroyed all non-essential devices. Not completely, mind you. But the damage was beyond enough to render them inoperable." He explained.
"Then what are these machines?" Vega questioned. "They possess no traces of Demonic energy. There are no signs of flesh imbued within them. They are not a product of Doom and its minions. Yet, from what you say, they are alien." He stated.
"Can you describe their appearance?" Samur requested.
"Currently, they are deactivated. In total, there are two units. They are resting in front of the entrance. Each has four long legs that are presently retracted. Their bodies simultaneously serve as their heads. They possess a single optic that my scans show is capable of multiple view options such as night vision and thermal detection. They are also equipped with an automatic weapon that is fully stocked. The caliber they use could easily pierce the flesh of any Demon, including ones such as a Baron or Archvile. There are more details, but those are the most important." Vega listed.
Sadly, nothing was made clear. Neither Doomguy nor Samur knew what these machines were. However, it was obvious that they weren't made and placed here by the Demons. So, who then?
Doomguy, deciding there was no point in standing around, proceeded ahead. He maintained his steady pace in case these unknown robots chose to get violent. Yet, in another shocking development, the door automatically opened when the space marine reached it. Almost as if he were an expected guest.
Beep Boop Boop
The machines came to life not a second after Doomguy was allowed entry. They swiftly stood on their legs and looked up at the space marine. In a way, their non-expressive optics were endearing. They seemed to look at him with curiosity.
But then, the machines suddenly took off with impressive speed. Of course, Doomguy followed. He even changed his pace to a light sprint to keep up with the quick buggers. Yet by now, Doomguy summoned his assault rifle in case this was an elaborate trap.
"...This...can't be right..." Samur muttered as Doomguy gave chase. "They're...leading you to the main chamber...they're taking you to Khan..." He discovered.
"I can confirm," Vega responded. "Also, my scans are not detecting any other foreign presence. Although, there is a suspicious item that has been laid atop the Divinity." He informed them.
Curiouser and curiouser. Within the next few minutes, Doomguy arrived at the chamber. The mysterious machines were already near the Divinity. However, just as quickly had they come to life, they now returned to slumber. They truly were nothing more than the space marine's guides.
Step by step, Doomguy approached the Divinity. It was a COLOSSAL coffin-esque apparatus. Atop it, at the lowest part where the robots had shut down, was the unknown object Vega had detected.
"What...is that?..." Samur asked as the space marine slowly picked it up.
"It's a Personal Data Assistant. Although, its design is greatly different from those produced by the UAC. Despite this, my scans show that it is of UAC design and production. It's as if it is a paradox of some kind." Vega answered.
Accessing the device, Doomguy examined its contents. Stored within it, there was only one file. A voice recording. Hoping to find some answers, Doomguy played it. What he heard within that first moment nearly made him drop the device.
"Hello, Slayer."