Freefall. At this moment, Doomguy was experiencing this. After being grabbed and pulled into Doom, he was thrown into the seemingly infinite void that comprised most of the realm. With no means of propulsion or flight in his suit, all he could do was wait for the impact.
It would come eventually, of that Doomguy was certain. Depending on where in Doom he'd been pulled into, it might take a few minutes, possibly even hours. Unlike any other reality, there were very few rules of Doom. At any second, anything could change or be different; it was a place of ceaseless chaos.
Admittedly, Doomguy had to give his enemies credit. Ambushes were one thing, but he would've never seen this coming. In one well-executed move, they'd taken away any advantage he could've had. He had no ground to stand on, no time to draw his weapons, and no time to assess the situation.
For all Doomguy knew, a sea of caustic sludge awaited him at the end of this fall. He'd waste time getting to a land mass, giving the Demons ample time to attack. Additionally, the sludge would threaten him if he stayed in it for too long. Doomguy's suit was designed to be relatively impervious to Doom's environments and fauna, yet his actual body, although NEARLY invulnerable, might finally have itself tested if he waded in bile for too long.
The plummeting space marine could turn himself around and see what was below. However, there was a good reason Doomguy kept his gaze on the passing sky. Not long after being tossed, something came after him. Even from this distance, Doomguy knew who it was.
The same entity that had grabbed and pulled him through the portal. The only creature that was deserving of the title Nemesis. After so much time and many defeats, you'd think any sentient being would stop trying to fight something that always beat it. But not this one, be it stubbornness, pride, or a rarely seen respect, this behemoth would never cease in its pursuit.
THUD
With a crash great enough to make a crater, Doomguy hit the ground. Any other person would be in shock and pain. But for the hardened soldier, this was an inconvenience at best. Yet, that didn't mean he could sit back and relax for a moment; he needed to get to his feet as he only had seconds left.
Swiftly removing himself from the hole created by his landing, Doomguy observed as much of the scenery as possible. Honestly, there wasn't much to see at all. A fairly sizeable floating island isolated from any other land mass. There weren't any structures, barely any rocks. Was this island's true identity a random fragment drifting in the ether?
No. Everything so far had been purposeful. The surprise at the portal, forced into freefall, none of it was random. So, with that in mind, what was this location? What was its significance? Simple. It was an arena.
BOOM
With the same impact as a bomb being dropped from an aircraft, Doomguy's ambusher landed about ten feet from him. However, he was prepared. With his feet firmly planted and no longer susceptible to surprises, Doomguy didn't move an inch. He took the impact itself, its shockwaves, and the violent shaking of the ground beneath him as if it were nothing.
But, in all fairness, Doomguy's adversary anticipated that. That's what it wanted. It did not care for the feeble. It did not acknowledge the weak. Never before had a mortal last even a handful of seconds against it. Yet here was this one, always clad in green armor, never backing down from a fight.
After its landing, the creature straightened its posture. It stood well above Doomguy, to the point it looked down at him. The unblinking stare of the soldier gazed into the many holes in the monster's face. Behind them, a fire raged inside the beast. Was it truly flames, or was it the behemoth's soul? That was a question best left for Samuel to ponder.
As for Doomguy, his only concern was about the fight ahead. The creature waited for him to summon a weapon; he chose the tried and true double-barreled shotgun. Once a gun was brandished, the monster let loose a thunderous roar. Yet another rematch for the records was underway between an unstoppable force and an immovable object.
Meanwhile, On Mars...
When Doom attempted to invade Mars, it was so noisy and chaotic. People were dying. Things were exploding. Facilities across the board experienced critical failures and loss of system functionality. Yet, despite all odds, Samuel Hayden, with the aid of a trusted ally, managed to get SOME level of control over the situation.
Sure, there was still the issue of hordes of Demons pouring in through Hell, but that's where Doomguy came in. Ignoring some easily avoidable damages had he just LISTENED to Samuel, things worked out. While the silent slaughterer of Hellspawn cleaned up the mess with his fists, the UAC's leader utilized his intellect and technology to begin repairs across the complex. After a short time, you could barely tell there ever was an invasion.
However, Samuel was safely protected in his office during the ordeal. There were no distractions, meaning he could focus on the situation alongside his ally and be as efficient as possible. As cold as it may sound, the Demons killing the personnel of the complex with remarkable efficiency made them a non-factor. By the time Samuel could organize any attempts to save them, they'd all die. So, he focused on things that, should they be destroyed, could've taken out a solid fourth of Mars, including himself and Doomguy.
This brief history lesson is to illustrate how easily Samuel can get things done, provided there are no obstructions or interruptions. When such issues are present, even someone like him would struggle to do what is needed. A situation that, as of now, Samuel had to contend with.
"SAMUEL! WHERE ARE YOU GOING?! WHAT ABOUT DOOMGUY?!"
"SAMMY! WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?! I THOUGHT THE PORTAL WAS SUPPOSED TO BE RANDOM!"
"WHY DID YOU CLOSE THE PORTAL?! WHAT IF HE'S IN TROUBLE?!"
These were but a few of the shouting voices currently polluting the air. After Doomguy was pulled through the rift into Doom, Samuel immediately ended the connection and hastily left the room. Of course, once they processed what had transpired and what Samuel was doing, everyone else went into a hysterical frenzy. They quickly chased after the mechanical man and almost surrounded him as they all traversed the corridors.
Despite this, Samuel kept silent. He blocked them out even as the voices got louder and more panicked. He needed to focus. The only priority at this moment was pinpointing where his mute associate was inside Doom. Fortunately, the more rational individuals in the group decided to take it upon themselves to regain control.
CLAP CLAP
Those sounds came from Lilith. Unsurprisingly, the cause was her hands having clapped twice. She stood in the center of the group. At her sides were Gabriel and Azrael, while Michael stood behind her.
"Everyone! Forgive my rudeness, but please, shut up." Lilith ordered once all eyes were on her. "And before ANY of you thinks to make another sound, just know that I will use force to keep you quiet if I need to." She warned.
"Thank you, Lilith." Samuel, at last, spoke. His show of gratitude made the horned Royal smile.
"There's no need for that, Samuel. It's obvious that you're busy." Lilith replied.
"Wait, it is?" Michael questioned, voicing a question that most of the group had after that was said.
"But of course. Do you honestly think Samuel would suddenly walk away from us without reason? Remember, everyone, none of us know anything. Or, at least, nowhere close to what he and Doomguy do." Lilith pointed out.
"Right. But he could still keep us in the loop! We just watched the big guy get grabbed by some unknown freak! You can't blame us for wanting some answers!" Angel Dust exclaimed.
"Not unknown." Samuel corrected, getting the attention back on him. "I can safely say that the Demon who abducted my partner isn't a mystery. I knew who it was from the blade adorned on its arm. The Cyberdemon." He informed them.
"Wait, the Cyberdemon? Isn't that the one who's got beef with Doomguy? The one that wants him dead more than any other?" Cherri asked, remembering that name from earlier.
"That it is. The most formidable combatant ever seen in Doom's legions. My current theory is that its obsession with my associate is primal. The Cyberdemon, excluding its masters, is the strongest creature in Doom. My partner, presently, is the most powerful mortal ever to exist. Two dominant predators, one ecosystem, the rest explains itself." Samuel answered.
"Is he going to be okay?" Nifty inquired, greatly worried about Doomguy.
"Miss Nifty, you needn't sound so distressed. I'm sure my associate told you of his countless battles and victories over the Cyberdemon. That's most likely how you even learned about its existence. They'll trade blows for a bit, but the fight will be finished quickly. There's nothing to be concerned about." Samuel assured her.
"Right, but this wasn't supposed to happen. The Demons caught us all off guard." Vagatha interjected. "What if the Cyberdemon has new abilities or weapons? What if it's pulled Doomguy into a situation where he's surrounded?" She pressed, feeling the same worry as Nifty.
"Everyone, please, listen to me." Samuel started, but not in a rude tone. "Remember, that man has been fighting these creatures longer than any other entity in all of Creation. Is it possible our enemies have rapidly developed themselves in light of their recent defeat? Absolutely. However, no amount of newly developed armaments, augmentations, or natural enhancements will be capable of rendering my partner helpless. The Demons would have to use something unprecedented for that to occur. Something that neither my intellect nor his experience would be able to predict. Is that also possible? Yes. I won't deny that it is. But our enemies, especially the Cyberdemon, favor their strength rather than experimental ideas and concepts that may or may not work. So, regarding the brawl unfolding at this very moment, I am confident our punch-happy psychopath is handling himself just fine." He told them before resuming his walk. "Now, if you want to see how he's faring, please, follow me. I'm trying to locate him and establish a connection with his suit. Should I prove successful, we'll be able to get a live feed from his visor." He said.
Seeing as no one, not even Gabriel or Azrael, could do anything to bring Doomguy back, they all followed Samuel in silence. Each of their minds was overcome with various thoughts and emotions.
Meanwhile, In Doom...
New tricks. Very few Demons ever had them. But the Cyberdemon was the exception. Ignoring its cybernetic components this time around, as they were provided by Samuel's people and not its masters. The Cyberdemon, over time, had adapted to how Doomguy moved and used his weapons.
Every battle between the two was a sight to behold. Unlike the hordes that only sought to maul the space marine, the Cyberdemon was as sensible as his opponent. Sure, it still wielded its natural advantages in simplistic ways, such as using its massive size and weight like a battering ram. But that didn't take away from the Cyberdemon's refined combat skill. If anything, it made it a greater threat.
The obsidian-skinned behemoth could rely solely on what its masters gave it, like the rest of its kind. Yet, it chose to learn. Every defeat was a lesson. After enough of them had happened, there was a real chance that the Cyberdemon could reach Doomguy's level. Or, at the least, come scarily close to it.
This had never been as evident as it was now. Doomguy was in a constant sprint. The Cyberdemon wouldn't let him get close. It kept him on the outer rim of the island they fought on with a never-ending barraged of well-aimed missiles, along with a new attack.
The last time the pair duked it out, the Cyberdemon's artificial arm, which was little more than a massive laser cannon, could only fire in bursts. It'd take a few seconds to charge, then unleash the built-up energy in a single powerful beam. Now, the Cyberdemon could maintain the laser seemingly indefinitely. Doom's brighter minds had improved the UAC's design.
Additionally, the missiles the Cyberdemon fired were not normal. Instead of munitions, the projectiles were the beast's internal fire weaponized. Apart from the obvious benefit of never-ending shots, it allowed the Cyberdemon more control over them. Unfortunately, this gave its attacks more properties and better homing capabilities.
Making matters worse, as Doomguy pelted his enemy from afar with gauss rounds and bullets, the Cyberdemon reacted differently to this than it had previously. Rather than being confident in the durability of its body, the Cyberdemon had a response for specific attacks. If rockets or gauss beams were fired, it'd summon a wall from the ground to intercept them. If bullets or plasma shots were used, it'd conjure a wall of flame to destroy the incoming barrage.
Defense. The only Demon to care about that was the Archvile. Yet, here and now, the Cyberdemon displayed its capableness and potential for growth as a fighter. After one loss, it conceived measures to counteract Doomguy's standard arsenal. However, neither of these protective tactics would stop the ace up his sleeve.
Seeing no swift way to end this fight due to the Cyberdemon's strategic actions, Doomguy decided enough was enough. Storing his chaingun, which he'd been using for a bit now, he exchanged it for the BFG. Even with its need for a few seconds to ready a shot, there was no way the Cyberdemon could easily avoid the Argent sphere the gun would send forward. Once the projectile connected, it'd stun his adversary, giving Doomguy the window he needed to turn the tide.
Or, it would've if things played out as they always did. Whenever the BFG was brought into play, one of two things happened. The Demons who knew the weapon and what it could do did their best to avoid its destructive might. Those who didn't would continue to rush at Doomguy without fear, seeing the BFG as nothing more than another of his guns.
However, during the invasion of Mars, the most significant of Doom's Demons weren't severely injured or flat-out killed by the BFG. The worst that happened to these select few was a temporary state of uncontrollable convulsions and slight injury. Of course, the Cyberdemon was in that category. Furthermore, it was the first major foe Doomguy faced during the invasion; that's how he made this discovery.
Both Samuel and Doomguy had theories as to what the change could be. The most logical was the Cyberdemon's new body. After all, this was by FAR the most durable the beast had ever been. At this point, it could possess the same endurance and resistance as Doomguy's armor. It was that impressive.
This information is important to know to understand the following events properly. Similarly to Doomguy's other weapons, the Cyberdemon recognized the BFG and was prepared to deal with it. But how? The Argent sphere, which was its form of attack, was unstoppable. Additionally, the weapon could discharge so quickly, and its speed was so fast that the Cyberdemon couldn't avoid getting hit. So, how would it stop it?
It didn't. The Cyberdemon knew there was no barrier it could erect to shield itself from the BFG. The Cyberdemon was well-aware that the moment the sphere began to fly, it would immediately affect its body. So it wouldn't waste time or energy doing something pointless.
Upon registering what Doomguy was doing and what was about to happen, the Cyberdemon activated the jets embedded in its backside. With all the power it could give them, the Cyberdemon was propelled in a direction. The trajectory of its movement was straight at Doomguy.
Even with his speed, Doomguy wouldn't be able to avoid the incoming mountain of Demonic flesh that was flying at him. As for the BFG, its current charge was too far along to be canceled. When the sphere finally left the weapon's barrel, the Cyberdemon was mere feet away. The only thing either combatant saw afterward was a bright green light enveloping them.
Meanwhile, On Mars...
"How much longer, Sammy?" Angel Dust asked. He and everyone else was crowded around their host and his desk.
After two tram rides to get everyone back to the main building, the group continued tailing Samuel until they were in his office. From there, they anxiously waited for ANYTHING to happen. The only visual signs of something happening were various screens and menus on the Doctor's monitor that seemed busily working.
"It should be soon," Samuel answered, focusing on the work. "Before my partner began scouting missions in your Hell, I upgraded his suit's communication function. Previously, during the invasion, I couldn't contact him when he was in Doom. Although, that could've been the work of its rulers actively interfering with the connection." He shared.
"And you're sure it'll work this time? What if the Demons disrupt the signal again?" Charlie inquired.
"I've learned that no one can be truly certain of anything. There is always a chance the impossible or improbable will happen over the most likely. However, if it would put your minds at ease, you should know that our drones had no issues sending back a live feed during the UAC's initial surveys into Doom. Only after the Demons realized someone was snooping around did problems arise. Knowing they're capable of such interference, I've taken the necessary measures to ensure an improved and stable connection." Samuel responded.
Taking his word for it, the others continued to wait. It would be several minutes before anything else happened. When something did finally occur, it was what they all wanted. Unfortunately, it wasn't how the group expected.
The video feed began with a mess of static, but not because of interference. As the picture cleared, it was instantly apparent what the issue was. The visor had several cracks; it looked like it would shatter any second. As for what could be discerned from its wearer's point of view, there was only a rapidly passing sky. It took little time for everyone to figure out what was going on.
"HE'S FALLING!" Nifty shouted in alarm. Immediately, the panic the group initially felt was renewed.
"Can you hear me?" Samuel asked, speaking to Doomguy. Despite the situation, he maintained his composure.
"Is he unconscious?!" Charlie asked while turning to look at Samuel. As of right now, she was the only one able to pull her eyes away from the screen.
"It...would appear so..." Samuel slowly answered. While the others were in a frenzy of concern and confusion, he pondered what could do this to Doomguy. Very few things came to mind, all massively devastating events. "I repeat. Can you hear me?" He asked again.
SPLASH
Following Samuel's question, something happened on Doomguy's end. The space marine had ceased plummeting, having made contact with an unknown liquid body. Unfortunately, it wasn't something as convenient or pleasant as water. The bright green glow the substance emitted was proof of that.
Watching in silent horror and disbelief, Doomguy's body slowly submerged into a caustic sea. Once his head was beneath the surface, the transmission ended. The highly acidic ocean swiftly finished off the badly damaged helmet. As for its wearer, his condition was unknown.