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The Wretch was alone. Doomguy and Flynn weren't around. However, that didn't grab his attention right away. Instead, it was the environment that captured the former Demon's focus.
The original workshop. Everything was just as the Wretch remembered. It was located in the first structure ever built in Doom, a citadel he had designed himself. His connection to this place was deep, a wave of nostalgia washing over him. Of course, unlike in the past, it sickened him now.
"Welcome home."
The Mother. She greeted the former Demon from behind. A few seconds later, she floated into view. Although her mouth was still filled with those gnarly fangs, the smile this time was one of sincerity rather than spite.
"Why am I here?" Wretch sighed, getting straight to the point. "And please, no lectures, speeches, jests, taunts, etc." He requested, even though it was a low chance that it'd be accepted.
"Why would I do that?" The Mother questioned, sounding legitimately confused. "You are a product of our master, just as I am." She added.
"..." Wretch was taken aback for a moment, surprised by her reaction. "You know as well as I do that I am not in our master's good graces. I've betrayed him, which likely puts me above the Slayer on the list of things he'd like to torture." He said.
"Wretch, truthfully, do you think our master is nothing but a savage? As you wanted of me, no lectures, speeches, jests, taunts, etc." The Mother asked.
"..." Wretch folded his arms as he contemplated the situation. This was all so strange. "Before I provide my opinion, I'd like to know yours. What would you call a being who consumes all that there is and then tortures any souls it acquires?" He challenged.
The purpose of the question is that the former Demon sought to test something. The Mother had always been an extension of Doom, just like the other Demons. But so far, everything about this encounter was abnormal. So, if the wild hunch that appeared in his mind proved true, then there would be a reason to engage in this conversation.
"Savage is often used to describe those who are not bound by meaningless restrictions. Subjects such as morality cause countless souls to behave in ways that do not reflect their natural states. Our master is as you know him to be. There is no false image that has been crafted to suit the preferences of others. He does not hesitate to act as he so desires out of a pointless fear of being judged. It may sound bland to refer to our master as pure, but it is true nonetheless. I can understand why you have become the person you are, but even our master recognizes that he could've done more to prevent this. Despite what your beliefs might be now, our master is not a mindless monster incapable of development." The Mother stated.
The Wretch was shocked. He expected a flattering description since the Mother always possessed a zealous personality. Doom instilled within her consciousness all of its ego alongside its intellect. But the claim of understanding HIS mindset and the perceptions of others is what rattled him. It truly sounded as though it was coming from her and not Doom, which could only be possible if...
"...You have a soul," Wretch whispered, eyes widening. "You're...no longer an extension..." He added.
"Correct," The Mother confirmed with a nod, raising one of her hands afterward. "Yet, before we explore that, I would appreciate my initial inquiry being answered." She requested.
"..." Wretch, now considering his words carefully, needed a moment to form a reply. "...Doom is unnecessarily brutal. Perhaps in the past, that could be excused to an extent. It, much like Khan, is a primordial force given sentience. Whereas Khan is Creation manifested, Doom is Destruction incarnate. That's why I was made. Doom needed something like Khan and her children. However, that meant I needed to learn and develop in such a way that Doom, at the time, could not. Or, perhaps more accurately, it refused to. That decision granted Doom victory over the Maykrs and almost claimed Urdak, but it also created an unexpected liability. You know the rest, so I won't bother retreading history. The reason why I mention it is to establish that Doom was never a thinking entity. Even if it has made an effort since then to be better than it was once, we cannot ignore Doom's actions then and now. Doom seeks to consume EVERYTHING. It's ultimate goal is Urdak so that it might acquire the Engines of Creation. I do not know what the goal is if it were to succeed, but I know what one of the results would be. An endless supply of fresh souls to be tortured and constantly drained to empower Doom. No one would be allowed freedom or comfort." He stated, now looking directly into the Mother's gaze. "Tell me, Mother, even with your devotion, do you believe that is an acceptable fate for anyone? All of us suffer except for Doom and the privileged few, such as yourself and Betruger. An eternity of screams, pain, and stagnation. I, for one, find it horrid and depressing." He concluded.
The Mother brought her hands together as she, too, considered her words. That further proved that she was now a separate entity from Doom. Even if the response hadn't been filled with vitriol, it still would've been immediate and carried an authoritative tone.
"Regarding the past and present, your judgment is sound. Your observation of our master's actions is also without flaw. Yet, I believe it is the grander picture that eludes you. You think that our master's vision of the future is one where he sits upon a throne like a gluttonous ruler and indulges himself as the rest wallow in filth and waste. In truth, what our master seeks is to free everyone from themselves. The torture you refer to is one such method that we employ to accomplish this." The Mother told him.
"...Go on," The Wretch urged. His intrigue was solely to know more, not because he was interested.
"For other souls to be their truest selves, just as our master and our kind are, then they must be willing to do what is necessary. However, as I've mentioned, certain mental hurdles prevent them from becoming all that they can be. Even at their lowest, so many souls refuse to abandon who they once were or hold on to something that keeps them from evolving. We must erase that from their essence. These unfortunate souls need to be cleansed and returned to a neutral state from which they can grow again. Each life will become as we are. Lifeforms who do whatever they must in order to better their situation. No more time shall be wasted on give and take. There won't be spans spent on idle chatter for concepts like diplomacy or equality. If the weak are unwilling to become stronger, then they remain weak. But like our master, those who desire all that can be obtained will reap the rewards of their labor. Our master does not wish for a version of existence in which only he is satisfied. He wants existence to be a constant contest that encourages every soul to be all that it can be." The Mother explained.
"What you've put forward is constant conflict." Wretch began, needing no time to determine what he'd say. "Furthermore, your so-called cleansing is the destruction of a soul's identity! You wish to break them until they are but mindless hollows of themselves! Then, you toss them into an environment that will harm and kill them repeatedly forever unless they fight back! Do you not see the cruelty in that?! How can anyone grow? How can there be any innovation or imagination when reality enforces survival and nothing else?! You say that the strong would earn the same rights as Doom, but what if they decide to deprive others of the opportunities to reach the same level? What balance will there be to prevent a power indifference that only a select few could dictate and influence?" He questioned.
"You ignore the role our master would serve. He would ensure that no such preventions are allowed. Existence would be a never-ending cycle of death and rebirth. Those who consciously refuse to learn and adapt shall remain as they are, and it will only be their fault for such a fate. There will no longer be excuses and attempts to deflect one's failings elsewhere. Without anything to coddle them, every soul will be forced to do what is required to make change happen rather than hope that something else will do it for them. The power to command destiny will be in the hands of all, and it will be up to them to make the most of it." The Mother said.
"The same can be accomplished through cooperation! There doesn't need to be such senseless violence and cruelty! Through transparency and communication, we can have that same honesty without making anyone miserable! We can create an existence where everyone is allowed to pursue their dreams and desired lives without having to suffer! The constant contest you're referring to would only allow one path to comfort and joy! A road paved with blood, bones, bodies, and brutality!" Wretch argued.
"Yes! Because then it would be earned! Anyone who dared to stand in your way will be brought beneath you! You have shown to all who might question your worth that you are deserving! There can be no doubts or accusations of advantage or manipulation! You will stand as superior not because of some self-made reason but because you have shown that it is the truth!" The Mother countered.
There was a temporary pause. Both individuals stared at each other, trying to assess their minds. Unfortunately, within both, an unshakeable resolve was seen.
"We are not going to sway one another," Wretch said, folding his arms again. "Unless you want to keep speaking, I'd prefer to move forward with the test I am to partake in." He requested.
"..." The Mother continued staring for a while longer before sighing in defeat. "Very well, Wretch. I had hoped for your willing compliance, but it seems that you are set on undergoing the same process as the rest." She said, gesturing to the workshop around them afterward. "As for your test, it is here. We do not intend to have you fight something like the Slayer and the Marine. Your prowess lies with your mind. So, if you want the Maykrs to be free, then you must fulfill a demand we have of you." She revealed.
"What would you have me do?" Wretch asked, a feeling of dread striking him. "If you request I build you a weapon, then...I refuse. Yes, I know it will cost me the Maykrs' souls, but I will NOT deliver another death machine to Doom." He asserted.
"It's not a weapon," The Mother quickly answered, surprising him. "We knew that you'd object to giving us an armament. What we need from you is a part that belongs to a larger mechanism. Betruger has done his best to fulfill the task, but even he has been met with issues. The objective is incredibly complex, so it's understandable why he'd struggle. Even with my aid, we find ourselves unable to move forward." She informed him.
"What is the larger mechanism?" Wretch questioned.
"A method of control for multiple souls in one body. To be direct, what we're aiming for is to combine multiple Spider Masterminds to make something greater." The Mother shared.
"..." Once again, Wretch was shocked. "...How...How many Demons have souls now?..." He inquired.
"Myself, the Cyberdemon, and a VERY small pool of Spider Masterminds and Archviles." The Mother listed.
"...Why?..." Wretch whispered, utterly dumbfounded. "After what happened with me, why would Doom risk more betrayal?" He asked.
"There it is again," The Mother sighed with disappointment. "As I've already stated, our master acknowledges that he contributed to your treachery. Thus, he has taken measures to prevent it from repeating. Betruger and I were given the responsibility of ensuring absolute loyalty to any Demons granted sentience. Regarding the Cyberdemon, it's a reward for all that it has done, and it's already present devotion to our master." She answered.
"How long have you had them?" Wretch inquired.
"Before Samuel Hayden discovered us," The Mother responded. That statement inflicted the worst shock by far. "But enough of these idle chats, Wretch. Please confirm your decision. Will you build the mechanism for us or not?" She said, repeating her request.
An invention that allowed multiple souls to control a single body. The most obvious thought to enter the former Demon's mind was the Icon of Sin. It made sense for Doom to resurrect that monster. It was also logical that to control such a beast, you'd need a collective of powerful entities working together. Why Doom wouldn't make the Icon of Sin a mindless horror like before was now the greatest mystery.
"I don't know if I can construct what you desire in an efficient time. I say this because my allies are waiting for me. Not just the Slayer and the Marine, but also those back in Hell. If I am gone for too long, then it could cause problems for us both. Would it satisfy you to have schematics and other design documents? I can have mountains of them written in a short period." Wretch told her, offering an alternative.
"Of course, Wretch. What we want is your intellect used for our benefit. We care not what form it takes, only that it is received." The Mother permitted.
For a good long while, the former Demon busied himself with writing and drawing. The Mother readily supplied him with an endless amount of parchment. Watching the speed and precision of his scribbling was marvelous. Truly, the Wretch was a genius with very few peers.
As promised, several columns of designs and theoretical concepts were conceived. By the end, there were seven in total, each comprising hundreds, possibly thousands of pages. Admittedly, the Mother hadn't expected so much output, but the former Demon explained why. His mind, as intended by Doom, was incapable of forgetting anything. He'd easily be able to share this information in all of its detail with his allies when he returned.
"Done," Wretch sighed. With ink and blood, he used his claws as a writing implement.
"Exceeding expectations. At least that hasn't changed." The Mother commented.
Before the former Demon could demand it, the Mother brought forward his promised reward. She opened a small portal above one of her hands, from which a Soul Cube fell into its waiting palm.
"Has Betruger updated the design?" Wretch asked, noticing small differences in its appearance.
"Yes, but they are only upgrades. As always, your initial product is immaculate. There's very little that can be done to improve anything you created. Regarding this soul cube, one of its improvements is a greater capacity, hence how all of the Maykrs can fit inside." The Mother answered, giving the item to him.
"..." Wretch examined the object for a moment. There were no suspicions of trickery. He could FEEL the immense Divine power stored within this vessel. "...Before you send me on my way, there is one final question I must voice," He admitted.
"Go on," The Mother welcomed.
"Earlier, you talked about how things such as diplomacy and other concepts like it are pointless. Yet, this entire process has been that. Give you something, we get something. I know you couldn't obtain any knowledge from us should we resist, but you must agree that this is far more civilized than Doom's past. If your ultimate goal is to defeat us, why even bother with something that you deem a farce? You could just take us hostage, which would deprive our allies of useful members within their side of this war. Yet, you chose an alternative Doom has never considered before. All I'm looking for is your thought process. The compelling reasoning that led us to this point." Wretch inquired.
"It's rather simple, Wretch. The knowledge we sought to obtain was not held by the three of you alone. We didn't just seek to pick apart your minds or learn something from your actions. We have projects and research just as you likely do. However, unlike you, we do not have the luxury of fighting an endless number of Slayers, Marines, and Wretches. There is only one of each, which applies to most of your forces. That's also one of the factors behind the Maykrs' release. With their resistance to us, all we could gain was an understanding of Divine power in its entirety. We accomplished that in little time after Betruger's involvement, so they've just been sitting in that Soul Cube doing nothing. Ultimately, our interactions with you today have been very beneficial in multiple ways." The Mother explained.
"But what of me? I understand the desire for my intellect, but I've not fought anything." Wretch mentioned, making her chuckle.
"Wretch, never forget your origin. All that you are capable of, not just your mind, was crafted by our master. The Slayer and the Marine are strangers; thus, we need to do what we can to grasp what they are and what they can do fully. Sure, Betruger knows who the Marine once was, but he's different now, which is what happened to the Slayer as well. A formerly typical mortal was turned into something greater. The capacity and limitations of this new being must be understood. There was a very small amount of information we could gather during his comatose state. But witnessing how he handles a situation of our design allows us to specify the information that is obtained." The Mother replied.
"Then what is the fourth trial? What more could be discerned about us as a unit?" Wretch asked.
"I'm afraid that is to be left as a surprise," The Mother answered before gesturing to her left.
FWOOM
A portal appeared. Where it led to was a location unfamiliar to the former Demon. It appeared to be a swamp of some kind.
"Go on, now. The end of all this is waiting." The Mother said.
"..." Wretch had so many more questions to ask. Weirdly enough, a part of him just wanted to keep talking with the Mother since she was an entity all by herself now. But enough time had been given to this interaction, so he departed in silence.
When on the other side of the rift, the former Demon immediately summoned his Conjuration Cube. The Mother's quick greeting at the start of it all prevented him from doing that right away. As the portal closed, he expected to inform Asmodeus of all that transpired. Instead, he was met with immediate panic.
"WRETCH!" Asmodeus yelled, startling his partner.
"Asmodeus, calm down. I know I didn't make contact right away, but it's because-"
"FLYNN'S BEEN INJURED!" Asmodeus interrupted him. "HE WAS FIGHTING A NEW DEMON WITH BEE, BUT THEN HE GOT HURT! BEFORE BEE COULD DO ANYTHING, HER CONJURATION CUBE WAS DESTROYED! WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THAT! NO ONE CAN CONTACT HIM! NOT SAMUEL, VEGA, OR KHAN!" He shouted.
THUD
The Conjuration Cub hit the ground. The former Demon's body froze. An immobilizing fear filled his body. Surely, Flynn was alright. He just got hurt a little...right?
THUDTHUDTHUDTHUDTHUDTHUDTHUDTHUDTHUD
Doomguy ran over. The Wretch hadn't seen him upon arrival. Both men were standing on a large gray-colored stone platform. Even from a small distance away, the space marine had heard the news.
"Will! You're okay!" Asmodeus exclaimed as he made the Conjuration Cube rise into the air. "We didn't know what happened to you since Lilith's-"
FWOOM
The men's attention was drawn to the center of the platform. A portal had suddenly appeared. From within, the meat golem that had been seen in Hell emerged. In one of its hands, it carried a bloody sack.
The bag was tossed toward the trio. Despite a hard landing, the mouth remained shut due to a tightly tied rope. Doomguy elected himself to be the opener. Upon doing so, he saw a pile of carefully cut body parts. There was no mystery as to whom they belonged since the head was on the top.
Slowly, the space marine looked back at the Wretch and the Conjuration Cube. All he could do was barely nod to confirm the worst. A gasp came from Asmodeus while the former Demon remained silent. Flynn Taggart was dead.
"Attention," A booming voice echoed from above, causing the men to look at the sky. "The death of your ally has changed nothing. There is still one trial to be completed, and then this shall be over." It announced.
Before any reactions could be given, the ground started shaking. Then, the platform rose from the murky marsh, revealing itself to be a pillar. It climbed higher and higher until the swamp below was lost to a sea of clouds. Now, surrounded by nothingness, the men heard the voice again.
"Your final test is a deathmatch. Had two of you died, this trial would've been ignored. However, only one has perished thus far, meaning it will proceed." The voice stated.
"...No..." Doomguy whispered, clenching his fists. He stared upward with a gaze of defiance.
"Hm, so, you CAN speak," The voice remarked. "If you refuse to obey, then there is only one option. You must abandon the rewards you have earned. The men from Betruger's reality, the souls from Samuel's, and the Creator's children. If you drop all of them from the platform, then you will be granted an exit. These are your only choices." It told them.
"GUYS! WAIT! LET ME TELL THE OTHERS! WE'LL FIGURE SOMETHING OUT!" Asmodeus yelled before disconnecting from the Conjuration Cube.
"Time is not a factor. You cannot leave this place. Should you leap from the platform and into the muck beneath you, then you will be claimed by myself. If you would wish to sacrifice both of your lives, then those who have been offered their freedom shall still be released. It is only through your refrain from action that will keep them here. We can spend eternity waiting for the outcome. If you believe my patience will deplete, then you truly do underestimate me." The voice told them. After that, it stopped talking.
Surrounded by an empty sky and silence, the Wretch and Doomguy look at each other. There was no eloquent way to say the truth. The men were stuck, and the only ways out were presented by Doom. Of course, neither one wanted to cooperate, but it might be the only play they had.