"Alright. Let's go over what we have so far. First, what's happening in Hell. Paimon, Stolas, and whoever Paimon has convinced to join us by now will be busy with the gala we were planning. The gala could still happen, but we would need to alter the plan drastically. After all, my Great-Grandmother wouldn't fit in the Goetian estate. That is unless we somehow shrunk her. Although even if we can, and she is comfortable with it, I think it'd be best if she remained the same. Great-Grandma's size would help to convey the significance of who she is. Of course, her soul alone does a fine enough job of that. But being the size of and bigger than most buildings will definitely help.
Second, Katie and Al's contribution. Even now, their ability to distribute information and give us nearly total control over what gets said and when is essential. With Great-Grandma's involvement, we don't have to try and portray Doom and its Demons in a way that will grip the people and keep their attention. Instead, we'll have them advertise the new event. We'll say to Hell AND Heaven that they'll want to, at minimum, look in on the Goetia's gala. As for the latter, Uncle Gabe, Uncle Mike, and Auntie Az will spread the word there. We'll ensure ALL eyes everywhere within our reality are aimed at one spot for the big reveal.
Third, Great-Grandma, as everyone else is left shocked and silent, will recite history. At least the important parts. Questions and inquiries will be saved for later. If somehow ANYONE doubts who and what she is, Great-Grandma will display some of her power as proof. If, after that, someone STILL refutes the truth, well, I...don't know what we'll do. At that point, they're either stubborn, ignorant, or both. I know that isn't nice to say, especially given the context of what will happen, but it's the truth.
Fourth, after Great-Grandma has finished her recital of history, we'll introduce Doomguy, the Marine, and the Wretch. The Wretch and the Marine have allowed their memories to be explored so Great-Grandma can speak on their behalf. As for Doomguy, we'll figure something out there. We'll also introduce Samuel and Vega and describe the Mars invasion. Of course, with all this said, we will no longer need the information of the people who died there to help prove Doom's existence and threat to everyone. That didn't need to be mentioned, but it's a HUGE relief. I know I'm not the only one who feels that way.
Fifth and final note. After this is finished and done, we'll be taking a brief break from our plans regarding Doom. Great-Grandma, Grandpa, and the rest of her children, my other Grandpas and Grandmas, will be VERY busy for a while with the aftermath. Dad, Mom, Uncle Gabe, Uncle Mike, and Auntie Az will help, of course. We will attend to other issues and duties during this time. In particular, Doomguy, Samuel, and Vega will address the growing unrest in their reality. The Wretch and the Marine's responsibilities and contributions for this period are whatever is needed. They're willing and happy to assist however possible, even with something trivial." Charlie stated.
Afterward, five minutes passed. Everyone carefully considered the plan they had conceived. No one had objections, but they did have thoughts and suggestions. Of course, they'd be civil when voicing them. Yet, it was silently agreed that the first to speak should be Khan.
"Well done, dear." Khan praised her Great-Granddaughter. "Although, I have one comment. Please, just call me Grandma or Grandmother. No need to make things a mouthful by adding more words to it." She requested.
"Okay, Grandma," Charlie replied with a smile. Hearing her say that brought a smile to Khan's face as well.
"Now then," Khan began while returning her focus to everyone. "We should hear from Samuel, Samur, the Wretch, and Vega. Their knowledge and expertise will help to refine what we've established." She said.
Excluding Vega, those mentioned stepped forward. Samuel stood between the Wretch and Samur. Even now, everyone, including Khan, could see the unaltered atmosphere between those two.
"Wretch. You may begin." Khan told the Demon. Although subtle, a few noticed a twitch in Samur's hands as they rested behind his back.
"Thank you," Wretch responded with a bow of his head. "I have no issues with this course of action. Our biggest concern was and still is Urdak. However, so long as Samuel and Vega can provide us with a constant supply of Argent, I say with total certainty that Doom cannot breach the barrier. Furthermore, we can ensure that Doom does not invade the reality Samur created while also attending to other matters. Although dangerous, the only way Doom can threaten us outside its domain is if we allow it. Of course, we cannot grow complacent. But this still means we can ease our shoulders and not feel as though we're racing against a timer. My only input would be that I, the Marine, the Slayer, and Vega should regularly monitor Doom. They might be mostly ignorant without my aid, but the Demons aren't stagnate fools. We can never assume they won't someday discover the means to breach the protective barriers Samur has erected around every existing reality." He stated.
"I concur," Samuel spoke, taking his turn. "With Urdak reclaimed and you revived, we've achieved our first major advantage against our adversaries. We should use this time to inform the masses, calm their unrest, and form a united front against Doom. Regarding the production of Argent, that will be of no issue." He said before looking at the ceiling. "Vega, could you please elaborate?" He requested.
"Certainly, Doctor Hayden." Vega accepted. "The Ivory Tower has expanded and increased my capabilities well beyond what was ever presumed to be possible. I can manage it and the Mars complex without any complications. The only foreseeable issue is the, at present, animosity toward Doctor Hayden from Earth's leaders in our reality. However, should Khan or Samur speak to them, I am sure any doubts about him, his behavior, and our activities will be extinguished. As for the production of Argent, that, too, is of no issue. Our technology allows us to extract the energy from Doom safely. Yet, due to the similarities of said power to those found within Lucifer's domain, I believe we can relocate there to ensure absolute safety. Additionally, if you would allow us access to the Maykrs' knowledge and technology, our efforts would constantly improve. In conclusion, where Samuel, myself, and Olivia are concerned, we will operate without flaw." He stated.
"I have no objections or anything else to offer to the conversation," Samur said. Was that true? Was it passive aggression aimed at the Wretch? Were Samuel and Vega included due to their earlier assistance? Did he simply want to avoid speaking alongside the Wretch as an equal? No one could tell, not even his Mother.
Yet, Khan still breathed a small sigh. The animosity Samur felt wasn't wrong. She only wanted him to move beyond it. To see what she and many of the others saw in the Demon. Alas, only time would help to fulfill that wish.
"I see no issues with what has been presented," Khan stated, returning to the conversation. "Does anyone else have anything they'd like to say regarding this topic?" She inquired.
No responses came. Everyone agreed with Samuel, Vega, and the Wretch. This included the other Maykrs, who did not feel the same as their sibling. Although, they had spent far more time with the Wretch, so that made sense.
"Next, Alastor and Katie." Khan beckoned. With their summons, the duo replaced the trio where they stood. The Radio and Mantis Demons composed themselves as perfectly as ever. "Your tasks are well-defined; there's no need for further discussion on that subject. What I'd like to hear is any ideas or suggestions you feel would better your contributions. Or, should there be none, what else you'd like to oversee and do." She said.
"After you," Alastor told Katie, giving her the stage first.
"Thank you." Katie politely replied before continuing. "As Charlie said, we don't need to hold a broadcast, television or radio, that gets the people's attention. You'll be handling that with your appearance in Hell. However, with that established and with you answering the avalanche of questions that will follow, the people will still need official sources of detailed information that they can digest at their own pace. Regular broadcasts across both mediums will ensure people don't feel left out of the loop. What's about to happen will quite literally reshape existence itself from everyone's perspective. Even an hour or a day without updates and access to information will cause uneasiness and rapidly escalating panic. Another complicated part is Doomguy, the Marine, and the Wretch. Although not being stated outright, these three are going to be the poster boys for...well, everything we intend to do. If anything, they'll almost be the same as you regarding public fascination and attention. They'll need people to deal with that as they focus on far more important things. The only ones here skilled in that field are myself, Alastor, and perhaps Gabriel. So, we'd like to elect ourselves as their managers, in a sense. Dealing with the people so they won't have to." She stated.
"As for who will get who, we feel it is fairly obvious. Doomguy, being mute, is better suited for visual representation. The Wretch, who can speak, will have his voice and personality earn the people's favor. Even by our Hell's standards, he's rather...ghastly. Apologies, Wretch. There's no other way I can think of to put it. Having him on TV could legitimately unsettle people. But his voice, although jarring at first, will be received far better on its own alongside who he is as an individual. As for the Marine, there's no point in wondering where he'll go. We all know unless the situation demands it, he won't leave the Wretch's side. However, with all this said, Katie and I shared an idea. Juggling all this while operating from separate locations will only add unnecessary messiness. We think it'd be best to base ourselves at the Happy Hotel. Adding onto that suggestion, as we originally intended to some extent, making the hotel a definitive outpost where we can engage with the masses would be invaluable. It has enough space for us, equipment, and welcoming those who can contribute to live closer to us. It'll streamline communication and operations. A final note for the future: it would also be incredibly simple to build upon and expand, just as Samur has always done with the Ivory Tower. Admittedly, having multiple such locations would only be advantageous to us." Alastor stated, smoothly taking his turn after Katie.
"Do any of you have issues?" Khan asked, speaking to the trio who'd be affected by this.
Without hesitation, Doomguy, the Marine, and the Wretch nodded together. Regardless of the specific details that defined each of them and what else they could offer to the cause, in the end, they were instruments of death. Guns to be fired. Swords to be swung. Anything the others sought to do to help them in some way or lessen the burdens of their responsibilities was openly welcomed and encouraged.
"Wonderful," Khan said with another smile. She couldn't help it. Everything was going as smoothly as she had hoped. "Next, Lucifer. Lilith. Gabriel. Michael. Azrael." She beckoned.
Same as before. The duo retook their spots among the group as those five came forward.
"I apologize in advance for how little I'd like to ask from you. Your parts in our plan need no explanation or elaboration. However, I'd still like to hear from each of you. Any thoughts or feelings you have are as important as your duties." Khan said.
"There's no need to apologize," Lucifer assured with a comforting smile. "As you've stated, there's not much we have to offer that hasn't already been talked about enough. All I can think to say about Hell is that we'll be bringing in the Rulers of the Rings into our fold. They'll be essential to maintaining order across the Circles. Paimon, whom you've yet to meet properly, is busy establishing these alliances at this very moment. Although, it'll unfortunately be a wasted effort since your appearance at the gala will accomplish that in an instant." He said before turning to his wife. "Can you think of anything else to mention?" He asked.
"More so an idea," Lilith answered before focusing on Khan. "I'd like to assist Katie and Alastor with handling public perception and the distribution of information. My experience as both a Queen and performer, I believe, is invaluable for this particular area of our operations." She said.
"What say you?" Khan inquired, referring to the duo.
"No problems whatsoever. As Lilith said, her assistance would be invaluable." Katie replied. Alastor agreed with a silent nod.
"Excellent," Khan said, returning to Lilith. "Anything else?" She asked.
"No. That's all." Lilith answered. In doing so, the conversation moved to Gabriel.
"Heaven will be a simple task to handle. I've been doing it all my life. With the assistance of Michael, Father, and our revived relatives, there will be no discourse. Furthermore, the bulk of our family resides in Heaven. I can think of nothing else that requires mention." Gabriel stated.
"I'm on the same page as Gabriel. It'll be hectic, but we can't avoid that. I believe we all agree that Hell will be the greater hassle. But we've already talked about handling that, so there's nothing left for us to say." Michael said.
"I only have a question. We plan to include Samuel's reality and the people within it since they've already become aware of Doom's existence. However, the mortals of our reality are still blissfully unaware of EVERYTHING. Do we plan to reach out to them as well? Or would the best course be to leave them to their ignorance?" Azrael inquired.
For a moment, there was silence. Khan carefully considered what was the better option.
"...I think...for as long as we can...we should leave those people to live their lives." Khan decided. "Everyone everywhere else is going to be focusing on the greatest horror Creation has ever faced. I'd like it if at least one place and its people were unbothered by these circumstances." She told them. "Forgive me if you disagree; I know how selfish that want is." She added.
"It's not selfish at all. It's compassionate." Azrael assured her.
Unprompted, the others nodded in agreement.
"Thank you," Khan said while sighing in relief. "Is there more that any of you would care to say?" She asked.
Briefly, the five before Khan exchanged glances. No thoughts came to any of their minds. So, they returned their focus to her and shook their heads.
"Very good," Khan stated as they returned to their places. "With that, we've covered all of the important topics. Before we disperse, would anyone else like to say or suggest something?" She asked.
"I would," Charlie spoke again while stepping forward. "Although we've intended the gala to take place at the Goetian estate, perhaps it would be better to hold it at the Happy Hotel?" She proposed.
"I was thinking the same," Stella confessed, stepping forward to be beside Charlie. "Our home isn't capable of properly conducting this ceremony. On that note, I think the gala should be referred to as such moving forward. This can no longer be portrayed as a simple social gathering. We must convey that this is something no one can afford to miss. Societal standing be damned." She stated.
As Khan considered this, most of the group looked at Stella in amazement. Societal standing be damned? Did she, of ALL people, just say that?
"You can quit your gawking," Stella said with a sigh while closing her eyes. "Did all of you truly expect me to continue my interest in such trivial things? And, before you think to question that, yes, I acknowledge that they were always trivial. Only a true idiot would think otherwise after EVERYTHING we've been exposed to. One's standing in any society is meaningless. I understand that now." She told them.
"I wouldn't say that," Khan spoke, getting the attention back on her. "You care deeply for such things. I saw as much in your memories. The passion you feel for them gives them worth." She said.
"I appreciate you saying so. However, I don't know if I can agree for the reasons I've just shared." Stella responded.
"That's understandable," Khan said before looking at everyone. "However, I want all of you to keep that in mind. Just because Doom exists and our lives are far different than before, this doesn't mean what you care about or are interested in is insignificant. There's nothing wrong with growing and developing as people in light of these revelations, but do not try to be anything other than yourselves. Understood?" She told them, ending with a question.
Although unintended, Khan sounded like a caring Mother to all of them. If you were to be very technical or anal about the idea, she WAS the Mother of EVERYTHING. But that is a topic best left unexplored until a more appropriate time. For now, everyone simply nodded in reply, which made her smile yet again.
"Good," Khan said before returning to the topic. "Now then, as for the suggestion, I approve. Admittedly, a personal reason for doing so is because I want to see my Granddaughter's achievement. Although I saw the tour she gave Azrael in their memories, I'd like to experience it myself." She stated.
"Wait...does that mean you CAN shrink yourself?..." Charlie questioned with widened eyes. The same thought also appeared in most of the group's minds.
"There is much that we Maykrs can do." Khan playfully responded to her Granddaughter. "However, I'm still too weak to chance physical alterations." She shared as she looked at Samuel. "I'd like to begin my treatment regarding Argent whenever you're ready." She requested.
"Of course," Samuel replied.
With that, the meeting was over. Everyone exited Khan's chamber, leaving her in the capable hands of Samuel, Samur, the Maykrs, and Vega. Heaven and Hell required their attention. They'd get started on the work that awaited them.