In all his days and nights, through every experience he's ever had, even during his most unhinged moments, Doomguy would've never imagined himself in a situation like this one. The space marine had been surrounded by Demons more times than he could count. There was also an unknowable number of periods where the man's only company was endless solitude. Regardless of which one you examine, neither of them was pleasant.
But now, Doomguy found himself in the presence of two people who greatly appreciated him. Both of these individuals, Katie Killjoy and Angel Dust, were sleeping peacefully in bed with him. However, don't assume that anything Lustful happened the night prior.
The space marine and the two Sinners spent the remained of yesterday together. When the Spider Demon was finished with his shower, the trio gathered in the Mantis Demon's office in Greed. They talked, got some food, and enjoyed each other's company. There was some light-hearted banter, but no one could ignore the looming shadow in the room.
Katie and Angel Dust knew this was nothing Doomguy hadn't dealt with before. Traps and ambushes were as common for those monsters as the color red was in Hell. Even so, the pair of Sinners had to share their worries with the space marine, which he welcomed. His familiarity with such situations was a comforting reassurance.
During the final hours of the day, Doomguy described every possible scenario that awaited him, Flynn, and the Wretch. From all-out brawls with an army of Doom's deadliest to maze-like structures that were loaded with crushers and trigger-activated turrets, no outcomes were excluded. Yet, to ensure peace of mind, he also detailed how everything would be handled. By the end, while still anxious, the Spider and Mantis Demons were more relaxed about tomorrow.
Now then, how the heck did the three of them end up in bed? Try your best to contain your surprise, but it was Angel Dust's idea. Of course, he QUICKLY promised this wasn't an attempt to make something weird happen. In his experience, no jokes or exaggerations, one of the best ways to build trust between people was by sleeping together, regardless of how far the sleeping went.
Katie was hesitant, but not because of any suspicions. Had she shared a bed with someone before? Plenty of times. But this would be the first instance where it was shared with people she had an emotional connection to. Anyone in her position would feel nervous about how it'd go and what it MIGHT lead to either now or in the future.
Reliably, the space marine had no strong feelings about it. Would it be great to share a bed with either person? Yes. However, there was no rush on any individual aspect of the relationship. Sharing a bed, having actual dates, doing more than just kissing, etc. Doomguy was happy to go at whatever pace was most comfortable for each Sinner.
Unfortunately, a VERY passionate part of Katie's personality compelled her to do it. Whether because of the life she lived or something that was always with her, the woman couldn't keep from comparing herself to others while having a competitive mindset. In no way, shape, or form did Angel Dust bring up the subject of sleeping together to try and "one-up" the Mantis Demon. Yet, that's how her mind perceived it, and that perception wasn't going to disappear.
So, with as much composure as Katie could muster, she agreed to the idea. HOWEVER, there was a condition. She needed to convince herself that she had the "upper hand" here, which both men indulged. They didn't mind "roleplaying" in a sense to make any awkward experiences easier for her.
The condition was that one person slept above the covers while the other didn't. Upon hearing that, the space marine suggested that it should be him. That way, he would act like a wall between them, thus preventing any accidental contact. Although the Spider Demon would be slightly disappointed since he wanted to snuggle, he still agreed to the idea, as did the Mantis Demon.
...So...how did things end up like this? When Doomguy awoke in the early dawn, both Sinners were latched on to him. Don't misunderstand; the space marine had no qualms about this arrangement; he was merely baffled.
It had to be done consciously, right? How could Katie and Angel Dust manage to slip out from beneath the covers, get on top of them, and then grab Doomguy without him noticing any of it? The man's instincts were so reactive. A ninja walking on a carpet would be detected in a heartbeat. Yet, these two managed to reposition themselves and make physical contact without any alarms being triggered. What could explain that?
Peace. Tranquility. Serenity. Pick which word you favor because any of them works. For the first time in so long, the space marine felt safe. You didn't need to be vigilant. There weren't horrors lurking in the shadows. You were sleeping in your bed with two people who loved you. You did it. You finally made it back.
As that realization sank in, Doomguy stared at his sleeping bedmates. Both of them were wrapped around an arm, and each one had the sincerest of smiles. Just like him, they were at ease. Having learned quite a bit about each person, that was a wonderful thing to see.
Yet, the same applied to the space marine. If the roles were reversed, the Spider and Mantis Demons would absolutely be staring at him. Those two were so used to seeing the man's unwavering stoicism and hyper-attentiveness that witnessing him sleeping would be a memorable moment. It was a two-way street of astounding personal development.
In the end, Doomguy was happy. There wasn't anything more elaborate to say about it. Somehow, mainly through luck, he managed to return to life. There were still Demons to kill and an overwhelming evil to vanquish, but that wasn't the only thing left anymore. It was all so-
BEEP...BEEP...BEEP...BEEP...BEEP...
Oh, yeah, the alarm. Everyone had agreed that Vega should sound an alarm for an exact wake-up time. That way, there'd be no waiting or delays.
"Ngh..." Both Sinners groaned simultaneously. They were quite fond of the muscular arms they grasped, and they were equally not keen on letting them go.
The alarm continued for quite a while. However, Vega wasn't using a startling noise like the Trumpets of Heaven. It was a nice, simple sound that was easy on the ears. Any negative reactions were the typical kind that every person would express, no matter the context. Of course, as stated, the Spider and Mantis Demons had an additional incentive to ignore it.
Sadly, neither Angel Dust nor Katie was going to win this war of attrition. They also didn't conveniently forget what was happening today, which MIGHT have provided them some extra time as an excuse. With groans and whines, each of them started opening their eyes and-
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Doomguy couldn't help but smirk from amusement. Watching the Sinners process what was going on was priceless.
"...You too, huh?..." Katie asked in a whisper.
"...I...guess so..." Angel Dust answered with a nod. "...I...got up once to use the bathroom...I...thought I got back underneath..." He shared.
"...I...just did it..." Katie admitted with a slight blush while averting her gaze.
Despite being a little embarrassed by this revelation, the Spider and Mantis Demons remained as they were. In response, the space marine cleared his throat, though it sounded more like a grunt, weirdly enough.
"R-Right! Alarm! Beeping!" Both Sinners quickly exclaimed, scrambling to get out of bed. They didn't question Dommguy being awake since they assumed it was the alarm's doing. Once they were on their feet, he'd join them in getting ready for the day ahead.
Nearby, In The Carmines Quarters...
Impressively, Flynn and the Carmines were awake before the alarm went off. What could've compelled them to rise earlier than the rest? An equipment check. A THOROUGH equipment check.
From the Maykr battle armor to ensuring every grenade had a pin in it, the trio of Sinners was going to be certain that NOTHING was absent. As for the soldier, he just went along with it. The man was already going to do this, but with the women's help, it should've gone by a lot faster. "Should've".
When Flynn started donning his suit and putting everything back in its inventory, the Carmines began brainstorming as to what else he could take with him. In a hilarious yet touching role reversal, it was the Overlord and her Daughters who fixated on the endless ways Doom could try to be a bastard. The guy who'd be subjected to it was calm and had no input to offer.
"What if Doom dumps them into the Caustic Sea?" Clara suggested, looking at a tablet in her hands.
Per the Carmines' request, Vega provided a detailed list of all the environments and hazards known within Doom. The total amount of information was achieved by combining the UAC's records and everything that Doomguy, Flynn, and the Wretch could share, which was a lot.
"Not likely. Even if we disregard the use of Invincibility, Wretch's Arcane abilities would help them escape without issue. Yes, we don't know the full array of his powers, but he's shown to have a mastery that's on-par with people like Lucifer or Lilith, who would also be fine in such a situation." Odette said, providing her reasoning.
"Hm, true," Clara agreed, moving to the next one. "Have we considered a drastic change in pressure? Maybe instead of a crusher, Doom could use the properties of a specific location to try and crumple the guys like cans." She proposed.
"From what Vega has given us, the Praetor and the Maykr armor are impervious to such simple methods of death," Carmilla replied, also using a tablet to examine information. "I'm unsure of what Wretch will do, but I assume that Khan and Samuel have a new suit ready for him." She added.
"Ladies, you're putting too much thought into this," Flynn commented as he stored his assault rifle. He didn't want to see them so frantic.
"What? How could you say that, Flynn?" Clara questioned as all three women looked at him befuddled.
"From what Wretch and Will have shared, the Mother's a schemer who LOVES trickery. Knowing Betruger, the man cares SO much about flaunting the superiority of Doom and its powers. Think about it, so far, every attempt they've made to cause damage for us has been some grandiose spectacle. The fake invasion, Mammon's transformation, and Gluttony getting nuked. The only times this hasn't been the case, such as what happened in Wrath or when Wretch made contact with the Mother, was when our enemies wanted intel. However, the situation today isn't going to give them a chance to interrogate us or try and forcefully extract information from our minds. We're already on guard; they know they can't kill us immediately, so it's obviously going to turn out to be a brawl of some kind. My best estimation will be an arena where Archviles and Spider Masterminds are watching us. Who knows, maybe Doom will be in the stands with popcorn." Flynn told them, ending with a joke.
"Even so, you should be ready for anything," Odette responded.
"I agree. However, we've already spent the last two hours on preparation. There's not much else for us to cover. I've got my guns loaded, my powers stocked, and my equipment operational. The only thing I'm missing is a Conjuration Cube, but we're getting those at the meeting before we head out." Flynn described.
"It would still help to go through the scenarios. That way, you won't need to react in the moment." Carmilla put forward.
"Hon, no matter how many run-throughs we do, you know Doom's going to be a bastard. Maybe it'll do something funny this go around by dropping a fatass Mancubus on us." Flynn sighed. He appreciated how intense they were being, but there was only so much that could be done.
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Silence? Why did the Carmines get quiet? As the soldier looked at them, he found them staring back at him.
"What?" Flynn reacted, folding his arms. "Was the Mancubus comment too much?" He guessed. He was CERTAIN that he didn't fumble his words with that, so their silent stares left him confused.
"Flynn, you called our Mom, Hon." Clara said.
"...Huh...I...guess I did..." Flynn realized. "At the risk of sounding stupid, despite what happened two nights ago, are nicknames like that too soon for where we're at?" He asked.
"Not at all," Carmilla answered with a smile. "For me, the surprise is how casually you said it. Given how things have been so far, I assumed you wouldn't be comfortable with that yet." She explained.
"I mean, Hon is sort of like a nickname, and I heard PLENTY of those in the past." Flynn said.
"From other mercenaries?" Odette inquired, receiving a nod.
"Yup. People always tried to get others to call them something cool. Razor, Sharpshot, Snapper, Fragger, Ripper, Mutilator, Reaper, Mortician, Grinder, etc." Flynn listed, rolling his left hand as he did. "Obviously, whenever someone tried that shit, they always got saddled with something stupid. No one minds you bragging about yourself, but to try and get everyone else to do it as well was like putting a kick me sign on your back." He shared.
"Did you ever get a cool nickname?" Clara asked.
"If I did, I never heard it," Flynn answered. "S'not like I wanted one or anything. However, people calling me the Marine is pretty nice, if not super unique." He said.
"Maybe we could make a new one?" Carmilla suggested.
"Nah, that'd be...weird..." Flynn replied, looking off to the side.
"What? Why?" Clara challenged.
"Because it's no different than those dumbasses from the past!" Flynn exclaimed. "It's one thing if people NATURALLY give you a nickname, but to workshop one just feels like I'm desperate to be cool." He explained.
"I disagree. You're not begging us to do it; we want to." Odette countered. "Also, Will has two nicknames: Doomguy and Slayer." She mentioned.
"Oh, true!" Clara acknowledged with a snap of her fingers. "Now we HAVE to come up with some names for you!" She insisted.
The soldier's impulse reaction was to object. The man didn't want to feel as though he was making the Carmines do something stupid on his behalf. But the Sisters, most noticeably Clara, looked at him with eagerness. As for Carmilla, she'd support whatever he chose, but her expression did have a tinge of hope that he'd entertain them.
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"Okay..." Flynn sighed, much to Clara's delight.
"Thank you!" Clara cheered, quickly hugging him. "Trust us, Flynn, we're GREAT at this stuff! We'll get a list made in no time!" She promised.
"We can get started now. We have a little bit of time before we need to gather with everyone." Odette proposed.
"Oh! Good call!" Clara exclaimed before pulling out her PDA. It was faster to use the device than to fetch a pen and paper.
As the Sisters began bouncing possibilities between themselves, Carmilla moved to be closer to her man. The remainder of the time before the meeting would be spent on this, and even though he wasn't sure about it at first, Flynn couldn't deny that it was a nice distraction.
Close By, In The Wretch's Quarters...
Ever since they woke up, Verosika and the Wretch have been engaged in an affection session. What that entailed was her laying on top of him as they hugged, cuddled, kissed, and any other intimate actions that never got near the "raunchy" category. The Succubus wasn't looking to get into the former Demon's pants, ESPECIALLY not with Sonia in the vicinity. She just wanted to do everything she could to express her appreciation for him due to what was happening later.
Verosika didn't bring up today's mission during the evening period. Instead, she asked the Wretch if it would be alright for them to spend that time and some of the night with Sonia rather than send her to Khan. Like everyone else, the Succubus worried about the potential outcomes of the operation. She didn't torture herself with the worst imaginations, but still, she wanted her and Sonia to get as much time with the former Demon as they could.
Additionally, Verosika had made a special request to Vega. There was no chance of her and the Wretch sleeping in, so she wanted the alarm not to play in their living space. The Succubus wanted these precious hours to be uninterrupted, which the AI understood. Sadly, even with that kindness, time was drawing to a close.
"Verosika..." Wretch whispered with heated breath. His forehead was pressed against hers as their mouths were separated. "We need to get up. We still need to make breakfast and spend what time we can with Sonia." He reminded her.
"I know..." Verosika whispered back, breath equally warm. "I just...I...I don't want to let go..." She admitted, tightening the hold her tail had around his left leg and the grip her arms had on his backside.
"Neither do I," Wretch replied with a smile. "This moment with you...it...has been wonderful..." He said, making her smile as well.
"Thank you..." Verosika responded, almost getting misty-eyed. "Before we wake up, Sonia, could you tell me the place, please? I know Doom's going to be unpredictable; I just...I...I need something..." She requested.
"Of course," Wretch agreed, understanding her anxiety. "We are acting as a decoy unit. There are no objectives to complete apart from Eve and the rest's extraction. Our enemies will create some convoluted reasoning as to why we must venture into Doom for this trade since they still think that we assume they have Eve held captive. Betruger and the Mother will be strategic, so they'll have a scheme that accounts for each of our skill sets and aptitudes. The most sensible choice, possibly the only smart move to make, is to separate us. The Slayer will be pitted against foes who keep their distance and don't rely on traditional attacks. Archviles, Summoners, Pain Elementals, Arachnotrons, and possibly a Spider Mastermind. Flynn's preference for precision and lethality would make Barons, Pinkies, and Hell Knights the right counter-selection. For myself, I suspect I will be made to confront my greatest achievement while in Doom's service. The only foe that awaits me is the Cyberdemon, who would-"
"WHAT?!" Verosika shouted, jolting into an upright position on top of him. "THE CYBERDEMON?! ALONE?!" She questioned.
"V-Verosika! Calm down!" Wretch exclaimed. He couldn't exactly move since she was inadvertently pinning him down.
"Calm down?! You just told me that you're going to fight the WORST Demon Doom has by yourself! HOW COULD I BE CALM ABOUT THAT?!" Verosika asked, resuming her yelling by the end.
"Because I'll be prepared! I'll not only have my innate abilities but the same powers that Flynn and the Slayer use, too. As I stated, we are not there to wage a genuine conflict. We are wasting enough of our enemies' time so that everyone and everything is extracted.
Additionally, I'll have a Conjurer's Cube with me! Alastor's invention, should you not recall. We'll be receiving direct support from the most skilled Arcanists within our ranks. We've done all we can to achieve the greatest possible safety. Is it still dangerous? Yes, that's unavoidable. But we're not jumping into a blackened pit with the baseless hope that everything will be okay. We've minimized the threat as much as is feasible, but was can't eliminate it. For that, I am deeply sorry." Wretch explained, ending with an apology.
The Succubus stared at the former Demon with anger. However, it wasn't aimed at him. She was just upset by the situation, and now was when it was coming out in full. She HATED this and would've suggested that only Doomguy and Flynn should go, but she knew that was selfish.
"..." Slowly, Verosika leaned forward, placing each of her hands on both sides of him to support her. "Come home. Please," She requested, trying to be calm. Yet, she could feel the moisture rising in her eyes.
"I will." Wretch promised, gently raising his hands so he could wipe the water from her vision.
Hearing that brought another smile to the Succubus's face. So, she decided to reward the former Demon by giving him one more-
"Oops."
Verosika and the Wretch's hearts stopped. With widened eyes, the pair moved their gazes to their bedroom's entrance. A certain child was standing in a barely opened doorway. The expression on her face communicated that she felt she had walked in on something private, which was supported by the Succubus straddling the former Demon.
"Sorry! I heard shouting!" Sonia quickly apologized while closing her eyes as tightly as she could. Immediately afterward, she'd slam the door shut and run back to her room.
"SONIA!" Both Verosika and Wretch called after her, scrambling to get out of bed. "IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK!" They carried on as they gave chase.
A Few Hours Later...
Although the alarm was meant to get everyone out of bed at a set time, the meeting wouldn't happen for a couple of hours. That was to allow everyone to bathe if they wanted, have a proper breakfast without any rushing, and take care of whatever tasks remained before convening in the facility. During this period, Rosie and the Goetias would arrive to enjoy a meal with Doomguy, Angel Dust, and Katie. As you'd expect, EVERYONE was included, which also extended to Michael, Gabriel, Sera, Emily, Deerie, Verosika, and Sonia.
No one wanted to be the last to know about anything or be ignorant of the plan. Even if those such as the Angels from Heaven or the small child wouldn't comprehend everything, they still wanted to hear it. When all were present, and the room was settled, Samuel was given his usual role as the main speaker. The following text is what he said:
"First, let us address the apparatus Eve and the others will be using. As Lucifer and Lilith can attest to on her behalf, the woman has no experience or knowledge about technology of this caliber. That meant we needed to provide her instructions for a very simple device that would fulfill the requirements needed for the task at hand. Although still complex, Eve was able to construct the device faster than we expected, even when you account for the differences in time's passage between us. Unfortunately, due to the necessary simplicity of the invention's design, there are some limitations.
The machine in question is a platform that scans whatever is currently on top of it. Once the scan is complete, the information is sent to Vega, who can then teleport it. After each use, the cache must be cleared, which is an automatic process, before the next scan can begin. As you can imagine, that makes the overall process very lengthy. We can still use the difference in time's passage to our advantage, but even then, it will be a sizable period of waiting. During all of this, William, Flynn, and Wretch will be busy in Doom. If, at ANY point, our foes try to do something drastic to catch them by surprise, we're prepared to remove them as well. Doing so will tip our foes off that something is amiss, but that won't be a considered action until each man has mostly depleted their resources.
One notable advantage we have for this situation is the Conjuration Cube, created by Alastor. After discussing it with him and Khan, we've updated its design slightly. You won't be able to see the change, as it's internal. With the expectation that Doom will prevent any communication with the men through any means, we've applied carvings inside the cubes that won't be affected by its constant transmogrification. These markings will allow the Arcanists piloting the cubes to establish a more concrete connection with them. If you're struggling to understand the concept, it's no different than how we use the Helix Stones to communicate with Eve. The pilots will have Conjuration Cubs that they'll hold onto, which then act as the conduits for those given to the men. If you have any questions, we'll answer them.
Next, I will address something that many of you, especially the Exorcists, have voiced. If we know when and where the Mother and Betruger will be, which is Lust, why don't we just trap them? Khan alone would be able to prevent their escape. To avoid a long-winded lecture, it's all about reactions. If we were to attempt to take those two as hostages, then Doom would retaliate. We know it doesn't have Eve, but it does have plenty more prisoners it could use as bargaining chips. There's also the pointlessness of such a plan since the Mother and Betruger are faithful to their master. No matter how we went about it, there'd be no chance of getting information from them. Even if we were to be barbaric, it'd be nothing in comparison to what Doom could inflict if they were treacherous.
My final notes are merely assurances to help ease your worries. In addition to the teleportation method, we've installed the Tether System into each of the men's suits. That gives us an even more direct connection to them, which Doom cannot interrupt with simple energies or powers. Khan has also created charms for William and Wretch to wear that will provide passive protection. Flynn already has something like this: a gift from Alastor. All that's left for us to discuss is anything that you feel should be. So, let's get to that."
Surprisingly, there wasn't much conversation. The main topic was exploring hypotheticals, which, even now, were everyone's primary fixation. For Khan, Samuel, Vega, Doomguy, Flynn, and the Wretch, this was but another dealing with Doom. For the others, it was either their second or very first major encounter with it. No one from the first group felt any annoyance in response to the palpable nervousness in the air. Honestly, that first group of people wish they weren't so used to it.
Eventually, it was time to roll out. Doomguy hugged Olivia and Rosie, promising that he'd be back in time for tea. Flynn hugged Clara and Odette since they would stay here with Samuel and Olivia. The Wretch hugged Verosika and Sonia, vowing to spend more time with them when this was settled.
The last matter to be resolved was the three Arcanists who'd stay and use the Conjuration Cubes. Lilith was partnered with Doomguy. Asmodeus was partnered with the Wretch. Amazingly, despite wanting to do it originally, Alastor conceded that Beelzebub was the better option as Flynn's partner. When asked if he was sure about this, the Radio Demon replied that he was better suited as a spectator anyway. However, he did apply a few more spells to the soldier's necklace before his departure.
Oh, and before anyone thinks to raise a brow, the reason why Khan wasn't chosen as one of the partners was due to the necessity of her presence. It would be SUPER fucking weird if the Creator and the army of Exorcists were absent from this interaction. The scene had to be authentic for the sake of the plan.
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The free-flowing mists of Lust. They were always so colorful and alluring. A simple description would be glitter clouds or sparkling air. At any other time, it'd be so easy to appreciate their natural charm.
But today, these colorful, shimmering mists concealed true horror—one of the most sinister souls ever crafted by any being. Even with a massive legion of Heaven's finest and the Creator herself present, the atmosphere was tense. Only Doomguy and the Wretch knew what this creature looked like.
Regarding those two and Flynn, they were standing shoulder-to-shoulder. Additionally, they were the closest to the mist. The entire group was near the outpost that had been constructed during the days of monitoring the Demonic presence within the Ring. Khan's wings were unfurled, casting a golden light onto all that was before her. Flying in the air next to her were Lucifer, Michael, Gabriel, Sera, Emily, and Deerie. On the ground, alongside the Exorcists, were most of the men's allies and friends, including the Angel of Death.
Still, it was the trio of armored bodies that were the furthest ahead. Regarding the Wretch, he'd been given armor similar to what he had gruesomely mutilated himself with. Of course, this time, he wore it rather than fusing it with his flesh and bones. Another notable difference was the color scheme, which matched that of Flynn's suit.
Time passed at a leisurely rate. There wasn't a chance that the Mother didn't know about this. In all likeliness, she was contacting Betruger, wherever that bastard was lurking. That would further explain the wait time since he'd need to travel-
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The mists were moving, and a shape was forming. That's right, a single shape. The men recognized it immediately as the Mother. It was interesting how she would meet them alone before Betruger emerged.
As the shape gained definition, everyone else, including Khan, was taken aback. The Mother was a floating entity comprised of brownish flesh and many mechanical components. Two small red eyes glowed within blackened sockets. For comparison, whenever someone saw Rosie or another Cannibal of Hell, they weren't put off by their lack of eyes. Yet, despite having them, the darkness that filled the Mother's skull was haunting. It was almost as if those crimson-colored lights were lures to pull in victims.
Size-wise, the Mother was larger than most people here. Gabriel or Sera were her closest equal. When the ghastly thing was finished forming, she floated toward the men with a twisted smile.
"Hello, Wretch." The Mother's voice was a constant hiss. The similarity between it and Azrael's whisper-like sound made the Angel of Death shiver with disgust.
"Hello," Wretch greeted her. "It's been a long time," He said.
"Long? We talked so recently." The Mother reminded him.
"I wouldn't consider that a conversation. It was more like a list of demands you wanted met." Wretch corrected, making her cackle.
"You're so callous. Our master has generously offered a bargain. Please, do be grateful." The Mother replied.
"About that..." Wretch began, folding his arms. "How did you plan to deliver Eve to us? From how we understand it, you and Betruger are stuck here." He asked, once more making her chortle.
"Why waste time with such a pointless question? If you didn't know how this would be done, then you wouldn't have come." The Mother challenged.
"While true, it's not a simple thing to accomplish. The distribution of Argent, the energy used for the barriers now, is done in such a way that we can't create openings wherever we so please." Wretch explained, making her laugh a third time.
"Please, quit with these musings. If you are sincere about your part in this deal, then you have brought the item we desire. Knowing you, it took little time to determine its purpose." The Mother told him.
In reaction, a drone controlled by Vega approached the men. Now, floating before them, the machine opened a container it was carrying. Inside the box was the Demonic Crucible, which made the Mother smile.
"How do you intend to open a rift?" Wretch inquired as she gently lifted the artifact from the container.
"My, how stupid you've grown..." The Mother sighed, shaking her head. "Use the mind our master so graciously gave you. How did all of this start?" She instructed, ending with a question.
"If you're referring to the incident in Wrath, we discovered the Gore Nest that acted as a converter." Wretch responded.
"Oh, good! You CAN think!" The Mother jested with a sickening grin. "The Gore Nest was useful. It was an experiment to prove it was possible to turn this reality's energy into something worthwhile. However, once I understood the process, as perfected by Betruger, I could replicate it myself." She revealed.
Immediately, the Mother activated the Demonic Crucible. Yet, it wasn't to verify that the markings were still in the blade, which they were. Instead, she channeled her power into the item, which changed the blade's color to purple. When that was accomplished, she swung it and-
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"Aww, those faces, you seem so startled~" The Mother teased. Beside her was a clean cut through reality, which extended to the barrier. Clear as day, on the other side, was one of the many skies that were found in Doom.
"...I...I don't..." Wretch muttered, shocked by this result.
"Of course you don't!" The Mother exclaimed. "Do you believe that our master is a moron? Did you think your absence dulled his mind? You fool!" She carried on, pleased with herself to no end. "The Gore Nest proved one thing: Hell's energy can be converted. Powers innate to our master were chosen due to their similarities. Yet, with that experiment being successful, it led to questions of other possibilities. What if we could turn Hell's energy into other kinds? If that was proven true, then could we do the same with our master's powers? If you've assumed all I've done while stuck here is increase my power, you're more hopeless than I believed." She concluded.
"...But...I...that..." Wretch stuttered, now gripping his head. "If...If you could...reproduce the Wraiths' energy...then...why did you..."
click click click click click click click
That was the Mother. She was clicking her tongue and swaying one of her fingers.
"Your confusion is pitiful. You've already provided yourself with the answer," The Mother began. "You made the connection to the Wraiths, which means you had to form an opinion on the markings on the blade. Reproducing their energy was NEVER the true goal, simpletons. Regardless of their resistance, we can extract that as much as we desire. What we want is their knowledge. Sadly, the Wraiths are as annoying as the Slayer. They even managed to slip something to you without us realizing it initially. What did they let loose? We don't know. We're just as curious as you are." She explained.
"Even so, if you have the means to tear through the barrier now, even with it being made of Argent, why aren't you attempting to claim more realities? Why not make a move on Urdak?!" Wretch questioned.
"Ugh, this is getting tiresome..." The Mother groaned, holding her temple. "Khan, Samur, the Maykrs, Samuel Hayden, the Slayer, the Marine, and you." She listed before gesturing to everyone else. "Then, there's this adorable little assortment you've accumulated and all the toys you've given them. Any moves we make, no matter how swift and strong, would be met with resistance. Khan and her children were naive before, but they've since learned. Samuel Hayden's intellect is like that of Betruger's, making him a nasty thorn. And, as always, the stubborn ones who can't accept a fight they'll never win. You'd be deployed to any location we could try and invade since we know you're monitoring them. At first, that was an intelligent assumption, which was later verified through Samur's mind when we gained access to it. There's also the being known as Vega, who is TRULY troublesome due to its omnipresence. Finally, when you inevitably push us back from all of our efforts, you'll recruit more lifeforms to your side, giving you more opportunities. By prioritizing this one and ensuring you can NEVER get too comfortable, we restrict your ability to expand and search for things that might be of use to you elsewhere. This stalemate we've been locked into is not to your benefit alone. We've done what we could thus far to keep you here. It REALLY is that basic." She told them.
"Does that mean you'll resume attacking Hell after this deal of ours?" Wretch guessed.
"Ah, another sign of mental functionality..." The Mother contentedly sighed. "That development was inevitable. To truly keep you locked as you are, we would need to apply more pressure. But don't worry, we have no intention of wasting time on trying to turn each Ring of Hell into a chaotic mess. We're only going to use your oh-so-dependable consideration for all living things against you. We might be forced to target your larger population centers if you weren't so equally attached to the smaller ones." She said.
"Hey," Flynn spoke, summoning his assault rifle. "This early-morning chat is great and all, but we're here to do business. The longer you yap, the more it feels like you're giving Betruger time for something else." He stated.
"Oh, I have been." The Mother confirmed, only to quickly raise her hands. "But don't start shooting, now. You're not about to face an army of Demons rushing through the rift. Betruger also isn't doing something in another Ring to try and divide you." She assured, for as much as that was worth.
"Was he already here? Did Betruger slip through the rift after you made it?" Flynn asked, causing her to gasp.
"I can't believe it! The monkey CAN think!" The Mother exclaimed with delight. Carmilla, who was nearby, sneered at the remark. "To answer you, yes. Betruger returned to Doom so he could fetch something. Again, not a Demon. That would defeat the point of this." She informed them.
"If not a Demon, then what?" Wretch inquired.
"An incentive." The Mother revealed, smiling wickedly. "Fortunately, we need not wait any longer. Betruger is almost returned." She said.
Silence fell as everyone waited. The Mother hadn't lied, as it turned out. From within the rift, Betruger stepped forward a few minutes later. Like previous times, he resembled his original human self.
But then, there was the thing that trailed behind the bastard. It was a creature of some kind, but it was most certainly NOT a Demon. It was a lumbering hulk of meat and body parts. The best description was a golem, only it was one that you'd find in your nightmares.
"This is an incentive?" Flynn questioned, gesturing to the beast with his gun.
"Betruger, would you like the honor?" The Mother offered.
"Why, yes, thank you," Betruger accepted, politely bowing to her. "Marine, I know it's been a long time, but surely remember the past." He said.
"..." Flynn got quiet, caused by confusion rather than anger.
"Oh, wait, silly me," Betruger scoffed with a hand gesture. "You probably don't recognize them, do you?" He started as he approached the giant. "Up here, near the left shoulder, this mouth belongs to Elliot Swan. Down here, near the midsection, this mouth belongs to Jack Campbell." He briefly stopped, adorning a sadistic smile. "Here, around the pelvic region, is the mouth of one Thomas Kelly, though you may know him as Master Sergeant." He concluded.
THUD
Flynn dropped his assault rifle. This thing. This amalgamation of body parts. It...It...It...
"D'aw, what's the matter, Marine?" Betruger taunted, patting the creature with one of his hands. "Aren't you happy to see them? They've been excited to see you!" He exclaimed.
"...M...M...Marine..." A voice came from the third mouth. It was so tired and raspy, but...Flynn...he...he knew it...
"Oh? What's that? You need to speak up, Thomas!" Betruger beckoned.
"...Marine...don't...trust...them...walk...away..." The voice gasped out.
Flynn could only stare. Was he even listening? So far, there wasn't any-
CLAP
"ENOUGH!" Wretch barked, regaining the focus. "We did not come here to be toyed with! We are giving you the Demonic Crucible, so where is our promised trade?!" He questioned, demanding answers.
"We have a counteroffer for you," Betruger confessed, once more patting the behemoth next to him. "If you're willing to participate in some tests for us, then you'll be rewarded with more than just Eve." He revealed.
"...More?..." Wretch whispered, needing to know what that meant.
"For the Marine, he'll receive these gentlemen right here." Betruger said. "For you, Wretch, we're willing to part with the rest of the Maykrs." He told him.
It wasn't just the former Demon who was shocked by those words. Everyone was stunned, most apparent was Khan.
"Before you bother yourselves with the obvious, the Maykrs are of no use to us. Our master has kept them prisoner because that was the only option that made sense. We've tried turning them into useful tools like Samur, but they're fiercely loyal to their Mother. They're just like the Wraiths, frustratingly stubborn. So, as stated, if you're willing to indulge us, we'll give them to you in a familiar package. A Soul Cube, just like the others." Betruger explained.
"Then, there's the Slayer," The Mother joined in. "We don't have anyone of great interest to you at our disposal. However, there is that useless failure whom you dealt with not long ago." She mentioned.
Pierce, it had to be. Doomguy couldn't give two shakes of a rabbit's tail about that bitch. Just as he wondered how Samuel might feel, he heard from the man himself.
"Don't indulge her," Samuel's voice came through the space marine's helmet. However, it was only on the inside. "Would I want my protege saved? Yes, like anyone else. But she put herself there when she started making deals with whispers in her ears. If the Mother and Betruger are willing to negotiate, ask for the victims of the invasion. They deserve to be freed more than the woman who condemned them." He said.
"Not Pierce. Give us the victims of the invasion." Doomguy typed after hearing Samuel's input.
"Hmm, I'm impressed." Betruger complimented him. Suddenly, the space marine needed a shower. "That's a fine change. We don't need to consult our master. It's not as if any of those souls are notable." He decided, to which the Mother nodded in agreement.
"If this arrangement is genuine, what are the tests you want us to participate in? The wording is very specific." Wretch asked.
"One test for each of you alone, concluding with a final experiment in which you're together." Betruger answered.
"Much like the reason we wanted the Demonic Crucible, this is all for the sake of information. During the invasion, you witnessed some of our improvements to the Hell Guards and the Cyberdemon. Yet, it would be much easier to advance our research if we got a chance to study you for a bit. So, ultimately, what you must ask yourselves is this: Are the lives we've offered worth giving us MORE knowledge?" The Mother told them, ending with one last question.
No shit. That was Doomguy and even the Wretch's immediate thought. Flynn...was still processing. He couldn't take his eyes off the golem or whatever it was.
"I accept your terms," Wretch said.
"So do I." Doomguy typed.
"..." Flynn picked up his assault rifle from the ground. Afterward, all he did was nod.
"Wonderful!" The Mother cheered before gesturing to the rift. "Right this way~" She invited.
As a unit, the men entered the rift and crossed over into Doom. The Mother, Betruger, and the meat creature followed. Once they were on the other side, the rift disappeared. As for the others, they'd return to the training grounds to monitor them.