Charlie

Today's been a long day. First, there was that embarrassing display at the news station. I don't think Vaggie's forgiven Angel yet. Then, Alastor, the Radio Demon, pops up on our doorstep after being missing for nearly seven years. Totally not freaky at all. Now, Alastor just beat up Sir Pentious. Talk about power projecting.

Anyways, Alastor cooked us up some jambalaya. We were eating, and it was really good. Probably some of the best I've ever had.

"Hey, Alastor?" I asked.

Alastor responded, "Yes Princess?"

I complimented, "This jambalaya is really good. If you don't mind, would you give me the recipe?"

Alastor laughed, "Ha! While I do thank you for the compliment, I'm afraid I cannot give you the recipe. It was an old family recipe of mine."

"Oh, that's okay!" I assured.

Alastor went back to cooking while we resumed eating. When we finished, we put our plates in the sink for Nifty to wash. After that, I walked up to Alastor to ask him something.

"Alastor, if it's okay with you, could you make a commercial for the hotel?" I asked.

Alastor answered, "Why of course! I'll get working on the script right now, and you'll be hearing the commercial within the week!"

I clarified, "Um, actually, I was wondering if you could do a television commercial."

This made him pause. "Come again?" he asked.

I stammered, "W-well, since you've been gone for seven years, not many people have been listening to the radio. Now everyone watches television."

Alastor was about to object when we heard something. We heard six consecutive thuds followed by knocking at the door. I excused myself, "One minute while I get the door," awkwardly laughing.

I quickly ran over, brushed myself off, and opened the door to welcome the new guest. However, at the door was Starscream, that new Overlord.

"Why hel-" he started before I shut the door and leaned against it.

"Um, Vaggie?" I called.

She responded, "Yeah Charlie?"

"The Air Commander is at the door."

Vaggie groaned, "Seriously? A second Overlord?"

Alastor's interest was piqued. "A new Overlord, hm?"

Angel explained, "Well, smiles, about two weeks ago this new Overlord popped up. He attacked the Vees, began recruiting flyers, and started conquering the skies as his territory."

"Very Interesting," Alastor noted. "Well, no harm in letting him in. After all, if he tries anything," Alastor began changing, "he'll pay for it."

Hearing their reassurance, I slowly opened the door. I greeted, "Um, hello, Air Commander."

The Overlord smiled as he bowed and regarded, "Your Highness. Oh, and call me Starscream."

"Oh, okay. Well, Starscream, may I ask why you're here?" I noted.

He stood up straight and smirked. "Well, I saw you on the news and took interest in your hotel. Speaking of which, may I come in?"

"Oh, sure." I welcomed. As he walked in, he motioned for six other people to walk in. There were two vultures, a wasp, a bat, a hawk, and an angler. All of the ones with wings wore similar uniforms to Starscream, except for the color, cloak, and the purple symbol on his brooch. The cyan angler wore a full-length green-gray lab suit with dark green-gray boots and gloves. He was also kinda short, only taller than Nifty.

Starscream noticed me looking at the other people and explained, "Oh, where are my manners? These are my Hell Seekers. The vulture twins are Tamo and Sumi, the wasp is Stinger, the bat is Dainty, and the hawk is Lucia."

The Seekers all said their hellos, and I took an interest in the seventh one. "Oh, okay. What about the angler?" I asked.

"Oh, he's Baxter, a brilliant inventor. He and I go way back."

"And how far back does that go, exactly?" I asked.

"He and I worked together when we were alive." Baxter piped in.

"Oh, that sounds nice!"

Starscream chuckled, "It quite is. Now, about my interest in the hotel..."

Vaggie barged in and held a spear to Starscream's throat. "Look, pal. I don't care who the fuck you are, but you are not taking this hotel as territory."

"I am not here to take over the hotel, miss," Starscream replied.

"Then explain the weapons. Only a person who wanted to do a violent takeover would have their group armed with arm-mounted automatic machine guns. Hell, yours are Carmine guns."

Starscream defensively responded, "Oh no, I would never stoop that low. See, these guns are standard issue for Hell Seekers. In addition, I assure you that as long as they are folded into storage mode and the safeties are on, they are harmless."

"Then why are you here?" Vaggie demanded.

Starscream explained, "I am here because I believe that what Charlie wishes to accomplish is possible."

I gasped. "You really believe in redemption?!"

"I do," Starscream smirked.

I jumped up and down, clapping my hands. "Ha ha! An Overlord believes in redemption!" However, Vaggie put a hand on my shoulder, "Hun, wait. Let's be reasonable."

I refuted, "What do you mean? An Overlord believes in redemption and wants to help!"

"Charlie, this Overlord tried to take over the day he got here. He's obviously power-hungry. And what better way to claim power than to take advantage of the Princess of Hell herself? Plus, he just randomly barged in, armed to the teeth with Carmine weapons. He's dangerous. "Vaggie warned.

I stuttered, "Well, yeah, but-"

Starscream cut me off. "Oh come now... Vaggie, was it? I have no ill intention with the Princess."

Vaggie growled, "Says you. You're a megalomaniac, the real question is what wouldn't you gain from taking advantage of Charlie."

"Oh no!" Starscream scoffed in offense. "First of all, a true gentleman would never take advantage of a lady," he motioned to me. "Second, I have nothing to gain from taking advantage of her. I'm already in a position of influence, I already have immense power, and I'm already a Prince."

I gasped, "You're a Prince?!"

He smiled in pride, "Yes. I am the Prince of Vos."

"Oh, my, gosh. That is incredible!" I gawked.

"Sure is!" Lucia agreed.

Angel seductively joked, "Look at that, a Prince! Maybe I'll give you some 'royal treatment' in the bedroom, eh?"

"No, of course not!" Starscream scoffed. "I have no interest in any sexual relations."

Angel shrugged, "Your loss."

As I was about to ask if Starscream wanted me to show him around, Alastor abruptly walked in front of him. He greeted, "Ah, why hello there! I don't believe we've been properly acquainted."

Starscream smiled as he held his hand out. He greeted, "Hello there. I am Air Commander Starscream, head of the Seekers and Overlord of the Skies. And I take it you're Alastor, the Radio Demon?"

"Right you are!" Alastor responded, shaking hands with his fellow Overlord.

Starscream commented, "You know, I've always preferred radio to television."

Alstor laughed, "Oh how great it is to meet one as fine as yourself! Polite, royal, and an affinity for the proper medium!"

"I pride myself on that fact." Starscream gloated.

I chuckled, "Well, it seems the resident Overlords get along. Now, how about I show you around?"

"My Seekers and I would much appreciate it." he smiled.

I beamed, "Great! This way, please!"

I lead them to the center room. "This here is the foyer, and to the side," I motioned left, "we have the bar with our top bartender, Husk!"

"Sweet!" Stinger commented.

Husk grumpily muttered, not looking directly at us, "I'm the only bartender here, dumbass." However, when he actually looked up and looked at who was there, he seemed to recognize one of them.

"Wait, you again?" he commented.

Starscream responded, "Oh, Husk! How funny of a coincidence to find you here!"

Their response to seeing each other intrigued me. I asked, "Wait, do you guys know each other?"

"That Starscream guy tried to recruit me for his Hell Seekers," Husk explained.

Starscream added, "Unfortunately, you were, and probably still are, bound to Alastor by contract; which is why you are here I presume."

"Damn right." Husk snarked.

"Now, Husker," Alastor butted in, "that's no attitude to have around guests."

Husk growled, "How 'bout you fuck off for a bit." He excused himself, "Besides, I think that wasp guy wants a drink."

"Damn straight! Pour me a strong one, bartender!" Stinger requested.

As the two began chatting while Husk mixed up a drink, Starscream suggested, "Seeing as Husk and Stinger are getting along, how about we leave them to it while we go on the tour with Princess Morningstar. And Dainty, fill your partner in when we're done."

"Yes Sir!" Dainty saluted.

I asked, "'Partner'? Are they dating?"

"No, it's just that the Hell Seekers are organized in pairs." Dainty clarified.

"Oh, okay. Anyway, on with the tour!" I shouted.

I lead them along to the hall, "This right here is the main hall! You can find stairs to the upper levels, rooms, and the path to Alastor's radio tower! Although, he never lets anyone go there. He doesn't even let Nifty in to clean."

"Interesting..." Starscream muttered.

I continued, "There's plenty of rooms in the hotel, enough for dozens on just the first floor. Including all the levels, there's room for hundreds of Sinners!"

"Very good. I would like seven rooms, six for me and my Hell Seekers and one for Baxter." Starscream requested.

I gasped for the millionth time, "You want to stay?"

"Well, if everyone else wants to stay, that is." Starscream clarified. He looked back at the Hell Seekers for confirmation, and they all saluted in agreement. The only one who didn't was Baxter.

"Hold on now. I'm not staying at some... hotel. It is nice and all, don't get me wrong, but staying here is completely different than getting dragged here by this fucker." he motioned to Starscream.

Starscream bartered, "Would you stay if we built you a new lab here? After all, you always said that you wanted a new lab."

Baxter scratched his chin. He pondered, "I guess I might. But how the Hell are we going to get all my equipment here?"

"Don't worry Bax, we'll get your shit here." Lucia piped in, patting Baxter's back.

In response, Baxter pulled away and hissed, "My equipment is not 'shit', it is highly sensitive and sophisticated scientific equipment!"

"In any case, I am sure we will be able to renovate some rooms into a laboratory for Baxter!" I stated.

Starscream piped in, "Excellent! Now, Tamo, Sumi, Dainty, and Lucia, take Baxter back to his lab and bring everything he tells you to the hotel. I'll stay here and oversee the construction of the new lab. Besides, someone needs to watch over Stinger while he's probably drunk."

The rest of the Seekers nodded in agreement, and I could tell that Stinger probably had a drinking problem.

Starscream asked, "So, what are we waiting for?"

Immediately, the Seekers saluted, "Sir yes Sir!" as the flew to do their various task. Starscream asked Alastor for help building the lab, and the Radio Demon obliged by summoning various creatures with construction materials.

Starscream himself summoned some of his Scraplets, which made me anxious remembering the goon they got devoured. But he assured me that the Scraplets would simply be excavation and demolition, eating whatever had to be destroyed. He then asked Baxter what he wanted for his pab and wrote down the requests.

While Starscream organized the construction and moving efforts, I began changing my plans to accommodate seven more guests. The prospect of them being here was extremely exciting. Maybe, with Starscream, the Hell Seekers, and Baxter here to help, we may have a better shot pulling redemption off.

Sorry this took so long, but I had a bit of trouble sorting out time with writing. But, regardless, I'm happy you stuck around!

Also, I did read the suggestions in the reviews, and in case you miss them, I'll address them here. I'll be keeping this at Teen until I have to mention topics that put it at Mature. Also, I would very much appreciate suggestions for new Seekers.