The Hectic Hotel. A more fitting name when considering current circumstances. For the past hour, no one was fully themselves. It's a bit hard to describe, but an appropriate way to put it would be that they went with the motions. There wasn't any thinking. There wasn't any communication. They simply did until they didn't need to.
Lucifer, Lilith, Gabriel, Azrael, Michael, and the Rings' rulers immediately started on crowd control. The Maykrs split into several groups. The first assisted them in managing the frenzied masses within Khan's barrier. The second attended to their Mother, ensuring nothing would cause her to falter. The third stationed themselves at the barrier's edge. They would kill all approaching Demons, usher in fleeing survivors, and accept the wounded that Doomguy brought back.
Charlie, Vagatha, Angel Dust, Cherri, Husk, Nifty, Alastor, Katie, I.M.P., and the Goetias offered aid where they were most effective. Example: Charlie helped her family with crowd control. Each of them was best suited for specific tasks. They couldn't afford to waste time by contributing in ways that didn't play to their strengths.
Samuel and Olivia, once they were inside, departed from Hell and traveled to the Mars Complex. Although the new facilities in Hell COULD produce Argent energy, production hadn't properly begun. So, they needed to take from their stockpiles and rush back to Hell. Mainly, this was for Khan's sake since they knew she experienced no ill side effects. However, if need be, it could be weaponized against the Demons.
Samur, after failing to apprehend the Wretch, returned to the Ivory Tower. Once there, he'd strengthen the barrier around his reality. Furthermore, he'd place a smaller one around Hell specifically. He couldn't allow the Demons to make it out and get access to Earth. If that occurred, they'd spread uncontrollably.
As the hour progressed, things settled. It was still crazy, mind you. There's no way it couldn't be. However, the masses were starting to process what they saw and what was happening. In their ways, they were making sense of everything.
Khan, who remained outside the hotel, shielded them from these horrors. Despite still knowing nothing about her AND disregarding how her presence made them feel, they could tell that she was good. Perhaps that was a simple way to describe the collective opinion, but it was accurate nonetheless. They felt safe because of her. They felt they could trust her entirely.
Yet, as the crowds of citizens ceased their cries, they began to talk, murmur, mutter, and whisper. The green knight. The armored savior. The slayer of monsters. An endless number of names referred to Doomguy. Quickly, without any effort from Alastor or Katie, people started talking about him.
Unfortunately, the same was happening with the Wretch. Everyone remembered that peculiar-looking Demon. Even though so many felt and saw his Divine soul, they wondered if he had something to do with this. As everyone continued to dwell on his appearance, they noted the similarities between him and the terrors outside. Thankfully, the Wretch was busy elsewhere.
Speaking of, when Doomguy and the Marine (barely remembered by the masses) leaped through the portal within the Gore Nest, all contact with them was lost. This confused the Wretch and Vega to no end. What was blocking their connection? Was it deliberate? An unknown variable? Sadly, they needed to wait until later to explore this. The situation at hand demanded all their attention.
Plus, if we're being blunt here, what was the WORST that could happen? It was Doomguy and the Marine! Even if those two were thrown into something extreme, like a black hole, they'd be fine, right? ...Right?
"Still no signs?" Wretch inquired. He was keeping his focus on the Gore Nest and the Demons' movements. But he hoped there'd be something to report.
"No. I'm doing all that I can to reach them. But whatever is preventing me is something new. That's all I am certain of." Vega replied, causing the Wretch to sigh.
"Always changing, yet remaining savage," Wretch muttered with his breath. "What are you scheming? What's the true intent?" He whispered.
"Wretch," Vega said to get his attention. "The others have more or less regained control at the hotel. As such, they've been demanding to speak with you. They've finally noticed your absence. If I maintain my silence, it'll only make them worry." He told him.
"Of course. Establish communication." Wretch permitted.
"...WRETCH!" The voice of Vagatha exclaimed once they were connected. "Are you okay? Is Doomguy okay? What about the Marine?" She asked.
"I-"
"Are they still fighting?!" The voice of Angel Dust questioned, interrupting him. "Do you think we could help? There's gotta be something we can do, right?!" He added.
"Right now, we-"
"Are they fighting that big monster? They are, aren't they?" The voice of Nifty inquired.
"Everyone. Please. Calm yourselves. I know that is a lot to demand, but we must maintain composure." That was the voice of Samuel. Vega added him (and, by extension, Olivia) to the transmission during that string of interruptions.
"Sammy! It's good to hear from ya!" Angel Dust exclaimed, genuinely happy. "We saw you coming and going from Mars. Sorry, we couldn't help." He apologized.
"There's no need to feel sorry. You were more than occupied with the flood of people that entered the hotel." Samuel responded, assuring the others they were doing their best. "On that note, how is everything?" He asked. Although, as established, he and Olivia had been going between Hell and Mars, they remained on the red planet for the past twenty minutes. They were busy activating and assigning drones not under Vega's control to transport canisters of Argent.
"Charlie, her family, the Royals, and the Goetias are doing crowd work. Answering questions. Offering as much of an explanation as they can. Ensuring that people don't start fighting among themselves." Vagatha answered.
"What about the injured?" Olivia inquired.
"The Maykrs are handling that. Nearly everyone's patched up. As fucked as it is to say, there weren't that many people who made it. So, the number of wounded's pretty low." Husk informed them.
"No, you aren't wrong. That is simply the tragic nature of encounters with Doom." Wretch said, not wanting Husk to feel as though he was being insensitive. "Fortunately, Samur is ensuring the Demons can't escape Hell. They won't reach the Earth in this reality, thus preventing them from creating more nests and portals. Now, we just need to end this invasion." He told them.
"...Uh...about that..." Cherri began. "...Look, I'm just gonna say it. We ALL know that Samur has had a RAGING murder boner for you. The guy has been doing his HARDEST to find SOMETHING to pin you to the wall with. So...are you...going to be okay?..." She asked.
For a moment, there was silence. The Wretch wasn't ignorant of this. Samur did try to stop him at the hotel, likely assuming he was somehow the cause of this mess. Even so, the former Demon felt no negative emotions toward the Maykr. He still believed he needed to make amends, and Samur WAS justified for despising him so much for his past Sins.
"That...isn't important," Wretch answered. That type of response was expected, but it was still upsetting. "Anything concerning myself is trivial. Please, let us keep our attention on-"
...
...
...
The Gore Nest. That massive multi-mouthed monolithic monstrosity. It...died. It happened as the Wretch was speaking. Only he and Vega saw it; the others had no idea.
"Wretch?" Samuel spoke. "Is everything alright? Why did you go silent?" He inquired.
"...Everyone..." Wretch started. His voice was low due to the shock he experienced. "Please...go outside the hotel...you...must see this..." He told them.
Although they were extremely confused by whatever was happening, the others did as they were told. Regarding Samuel and Olivia, Vega opened a portal at their location that would put them outside the hotel. After a few seconds, everyone was gathered near Khan. Along with her, they looked out into the horizon of Pentagram City. Each was left bewildered by what they witnessed.
The Gore Nest...was dying. No, wait. It WAS dead. Instantaneously, something spread throughout the entirety of its form. Poison? A chemical? A type of power or energy? They hadn't the faintest clue. The once bright red coloration of the Gore Nest's meat and flesh was gray. Yet, it didn't fall or collapse. That's why they hadn't been alerted to its demise since it remained upright.
"Vega...what...are we looking at?..." Samuel questioned, speaking on behalf of everyone.
"I'm...trying to understand it myself, Doctor Hayden," Vega confessed. It was EXCEPTIONALLY rare for something to affect the AI like this. But if there was ever a time, it was now. "It...would appear...that the Gore Nest has been afflicted with an unknown malady. I cannot discern whether it is a natural cause, such as a disease, or if it is Arcane-based. I would need to send drones to investigate the corpse." He stated.
"...Wait...aren't...Doomguy and the Marine there?..." Vagatha questioned.
"They were. But they jumped through a portal at the Gore Nest's center some time ago. Nearly forty-five minutes, to be exact. We lost contact once they were across the threshold and haven't been able to re-establish it since." Vega informed them.
"WHAT?!" Nifty was the first to yell in alarm. Her eye was so wide it threatened to pop out of her head. "WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY SOMETHING SOONER?! WE NEED TO-"
Another surprise. Only this time, it was happening DIRECTLY before them. On top of the stage, the air began to swirl. It was gathering at the center. Soon, sparks of electricity appeared. Then, there was a bright blue flash.
...
...
...
Doomguy and the Marine. They were there, on the stage. Well, HALF of the Marine was there. The silent soldier's upper torso was on its back beside a sitting space marine. They were as confused, baffled, bewildered, dumbfounded, stunned, astonished, and perplexed as everyone else.
However, the unbelievable and improbable didn't stop there! The tendrils? Soon, the Gore Nest's affliction reached them, causing them to fall onto the city as lifeless towers of meat. The Demons? They were dispersing. Sure, that WASN'T good, but they suddenly stopped caring about the barrier and getting to the hotel. They ran or flew in every direction that led them further into the Ring of Pride and beyond. The invasion...was...over?...
...
...
...
What the fuck just happened?!