Queen's note: two nights of Insomnia writing, and almost 5000 words later... wee! But really, someone hug Vega, he's not handling things too well after the shock he had before.

Garnets

Chapter Seventy Two:

Bad Ideas and Good Plans

Commander Malum was settling down to sit on the ground before the portal opened. He was trying to not be even more of a visible threat than he already was being nearly twelve feet tall. At least he was not the sixteen feet of a full Marauder, either type. Haco was stepping away from where he had been talking with Malum and the Atlan like voice from the comms, and another voice the altered man knew all too well. Even if it had been ages it seemed like.

There was a familiar pulse of energy before a portal opened inside the large vault chamber, over the beacon device that Zanin had set up a few minutes ago. With the coordination between the Slayer's other group on Argent D'nur, and the… Vega? It was full morning by the time the second group and their survivors could come.

Malum was mostly alright with bringing more people into this half cursed City, only because they were to be in the vault only for a time. Then the non combatants were going to be going to the Fortress of the Slayer. Apparently it was pretty empty, but he had the awake people here starting the process of packing. Gathering everything that could be useful on a lone Fortress, Zanin had even encouraged the civilians to take growing plant starts they had before being trapped here in Taras Nabad.

The altered man could not help but hold his breath as the first form came through the swirling, glowing portal of shades of blue, like the Sentinel controlled portals used to be like, and white-silver crackle of energy that washed off the white armor. Like with the three of the Slayer's guards, the warrior was in the older style of armor, looking around and giving the open area of the portal a good judging evaluation.

They twitched their hand, but it seemed pointed before walking forward and clearing the way. Five adults, six youths of different ages followed them with a few small animals as Malum watched. Recognizing the look of those tied and in need of a safe place to really rest. If this was any other time Malum would have tried to get them out of the upper city, but could only hope these people and those he and his men had been defending for the last months could really rest soon-

Valen walked out of the portal last, bringing up the rear and walking backwards with his distinctive hammer Hellbreaker in hand. Black demonic blood was dripping off the glowing condensed energy of the hammer's head before he turned. It was the same, almost Praetor suit like armor, as he still had the prototype. The helmet looked like an Atlan's helm and optic sensor, as a wide 'v' or rotated 'c' shape of black with optic sensors lighting up after it was put on. It even still had those shorter 'horns' that stayed curved backwards and a face guard like the Atlan mech Valen used to have.

It was still Valen, with added, thick groves in his armor that could only start to hint at his story while being missing these ages. Those grooves looked to have been recently filled in with a silver metal, and the once claw and teeth marks just stood out on the faded olive colored armor.

Malum focused on the Slayer's mark on the shorter argenta man's prosthetic left arm, and on Valen's right hip. Like with the Slayer's Guard, and several of the Shadowed Sentinels now, it seemed to almost glow faintly. The Atlan like helmet scanned around and settled on Malum's altered frame, and there was a curious sensation of time slowing.

Lyka was at his side, patting his shoulder firmly, "Breathe Commander, you will do no one good by passing out."

Malum let out the breath he was holding slowly and took a moment to focus on breathing. Looking up in surprise as his predecessor walked right over to them. Malum took a deep breath, but caught no scent of corruption other than whatever Valen had fought. "...Lord Valen, I… it's good to see you alive. Again? You are whole despite your banishment… gods, I missed you my friend."

The altered man ended up lifting his hands to run over his wolf-like helm. Freezing as hands grasped his own to pull them down. Glancing at the Hellbreaker resting on the ground in a shut off state and upside down.

"Brother," Valen's voice spoke for the first time, worried as he reached up. Shifting the shielding helm of Malum just enough for only him to look under. "What happened to you? When did you become a Wraith-altered child?"

Malum startled, sitting up and unable to look over at one of the saved pictures on the other side of the vault. His change was that, not just a mutation? "I… was caught in wraith song, the physical energy, I'm not a son of the wraith mother."

"You are," Valen said, reaching up to take his helmet off and look up at the altered man with his good left eye. "I've seen the transformation start before the wars with hell a few times."

"Of all the things… this might be the first time I have wished to be a woman instead." Malum looked down, and gave a low chuckle, but there was not much humor in it. He had met Wraith sons before, the Demigods were always kind, and intelligent, but they were the mortal protectors. It was the Wraith daughters that could become… well. A new Wraith.

The images of those Wraith sons were still standing in most ruins or strongholds, as statues and murals. Even here in the upper city of Taras Nabad there were those things. Some still believed the statues were able to protect them as the demigods once did.

"...well, regardless of what I may end up as, I am still a Sentinel now." Malum said, looking back at Valen, spreading his hands palm up to his once Commander. "And it is still good to see you brother."

The altered man closed his eyes as Valen pulled his head down and closer to press his own against. Malum hummed back softly, he really had missed his friend, and though no one really knew what happened to Valen. He never believed the rambles of the Deag about him.

"Where's the Slayer?" Valen asked, standing back up.

"In his old room," Malum said, motioning to the far door away from the lift. "We have not been able to rouse him, but my men were able to clean him up and get most of the armor off him. Except what's on his torso because of the crucible. Haco said you might be able to help with it? I think it might be helping to keep him in this state…"

"He was catatonic for weeks after the original incident of Taras Nabad in the past, once the Dreadnought was felled." Valen pointed out, started for the indicated room, grabbing his weapon and triggering it into a dormant state to attach to his back with his firearm. "Haco and Vega said there is an active Corpse Lord here?"

"Another part of the city, yes, to the east where the Divinity Machine used to be. That's our best guess of where they are set up, or under it." Malum said as he rolled up to kneel, then stand, walking in a hunch with Valen to the other side of the vault. Pausing in surprise as at the last second the older man sidestepped to one of the pedestals with relics to reach into the energy field and pick out one of the suspended disks.

"This is what he would have been after if he really did break the Sunwalker." Valen explained, "He was going to get other supplies for the Fortress here but he would have needed this to keep the Sunwalker alive."

"Can you heal the crucible?" Malum asked in surprise.

"At least stabilize it. I doubt the crucible will find my broken sole worthy of anything." Valen snorted in amusement pausing as he looked around the room and then saw the healer and the acting aid, as he was big enough to help move the Slayer. Shifting his steps to be quiet, gentle almost as he walked to the bed in the far corner. Moving to sit beside the Slayer, and when there was no reaction Valen moved the disk to his right hand. "Help me disengage the last of his Praetor suit."

Malum nodded for his men to do as asked from where he crouched on his heels a bit farther away so as not to aggravate the Slayer with too many around. Watching as Valen carefully stood to help with the chest plate and reached in to grasp the sparking crucible hilt with his metal hand. The prosthetic arm helping to buffer the spilling power without the support of the Slayer's power.

Valen visibly shook as he pressed the disk to the hilt. It hurt in the joint of his prosthetic as the not-metal of the disk started to dissolve back into the consecrated energy needed to stabilize the crucible. The hilt snapped open into a ready position for a moment, then folded back after getting a good look at who held it.

Still shaking, Valen stepped to the foot of the bed and set Sunwalker down beside the Last Gift. Only then could he breathe and stagger back. The healer caught Valen's shoulders and then bled over a flood of energy to soothe the pain around what was left of his left shoulder.

Valen closed his eyes, pretty sure he was alive only because he fully agreed with Sunwalker that he was unworthy. The man looked over, checking on the still Slayer as the last of his armor and under suit were carefully taken off. The Sentinel with him was starting to try and clean the new god's scarred back.

"Can we wake him now?" the healer asked, looking over as well with a worried from on his face.

"You can try, but he might slip back into the rage and kill us all." Valen sighed, finding a chair to sit near Malum.

"We do not have the luxury of time to let him recover naturally if it's like the last time." The current Sentinel Commander noted, "Not with the Corpse Lord around. The Slayer gave them a good blow when their guard was down…but they will recover. As he killed her lover I think. That marauder."

"...there is one way to draw him back." Valen said as he looked down at his hands, then looked at his helmet hanging off his side. Thinking about what Vega had reported to him about what was happening on the Fortress. "It may still take a day… and if anything happened to her, our lives would still be forfeit."

"Her?" Malum frowned, as this seemed to come out of no where.

"Lord Valen, you can not be talking about the young Lady Lily." Captain Milla demanded from the doorway. Having followed after in case another set of hands were needed, as much as still keeping to her duty if protecting Valen. Milla took her helmet off too frown at those I'm the room.

Valen at least did not miss the faint twitching of the Slayer's fingers at the mentioned name. "It's not a good idea, but the only thing I can think of that can resolve this peacefully. I know we can't take him through a portal without risking him waking into a rage. It would be safer to bring Lily here to him."

Milla looked between the two near her and then over to the Slayer's blank expression. She looked unsure, glancing at her helmet before noting. "You would have to convince Vega to let this happen. Considering the state of several of the humans right now…"

Valen considered his options once more, thinking about it all. Hon e the Slayer was left alone, if they were not careful and triggered a reflex… he got up. Valen glanced at the altered man beside him, "...I will be right back. Keep those that need to be moved packing. We can start to move who needs to be after I'm back."

Malum chuffed in confusion, turning as Valen walked out of the room. Looking at the Captain in confusion, as the older man was already gone. "What…? Who is 'Lily'?"

Milla hesitated a moment, turned to watch Valen head back to the portal beacon location. Vega must need to talk to him unhindered by comms as the portal did come. "She….is bonded to the Slayer…"

How do you explain what happened? It was both complex and simple. And Milla still wanted surviving Sentinels to be protective of the girl, not judgemental.

"I do not like this plan Lord Valen." Vega spoke aloud as the Argenta man came through the portal on the other side.

Valen made a face under his helmet, scanning the command platform and found only Rai there. The shield barrier was standing guard in case something else came through. "It's the best we have, we can't bring the Slayer through the portal without triggering him into full aggression."

"Doing this will put Lily in significant risk, more so in her current state." Vega's normal calm even tones had a notably harder edge now. "Lily is a living human, not a stuffed animal to be offered. There is just as much risk of the Slayer accidently hurting her, more so because she is just human and unaltered."

"Tell me what would be better, Atlan." Valen demanded as he pulled his helmet off, scanning for the nearest camera to look at. "If we move the Slayer here, he'll wake up back into a rage. If we try and wake him in Taras Nabad, he might cull innocent lives without realizing it. We can move them here, and should, but that is at least a dozen Sentinels that will stay, a dozen souls the Slayer will take and we both know he'll be horrified once back to his senses."

Valen motioned to the now shut down portal frame as it was sinking back into the floor. "That Corpse Lord will launch a full attack once recovered at any time. That will trigger the Slayer into a rage again- or, if the gods forbid, she manages to kill him in the current state that will likely affect everyone connected to the Slayer. Likely in ways none of us know how it can affect humans. Not just Lily, but Heather as well, and any others that have a thread connection."

The white haired man lifted his hands, palm up, to the camera, "So please, Vega, tell me a better way. I do not see one. I would much rather keep my little lake lily safe here."

"Please give me some more time." Vega said after a notable pause, as he knew the Slayer was not even responding to his voice now. He could synthesize Lily's voice, accent and most of her vocal habits, but that may not get through to the Slayer he knew.

"...you have until I'm back." Valen said, he focused on Rai and could not help but wish he or Asa were younger, but they were both fully grown. "Where are they?"

"With Asa in the healer's rooms, Lord Valen. Ah, 'medical.'" Rai said, looking unsure but trusting the older man. "...did he really not respond to you?"

Valen shook his head as he left the bridge-like command room. "No, not to Haco or the others. He barely reacted to the wolves there. How is your head? And back?"

"Just a dull throb, for both," Rai said as he walked with Valen. Keeping pace as he talked, "Asa and Galen are much the same, it… was strange but there seemed to be enough distance that we were at least shielded from his rage by our wraith gifts."

"And the humans?" Valen asked.

"Most are just having a headache, and are sensitive to light." Vega reported, having to keep the lights filtered and dimmed while the still awake humans recovered. The teens and kids were still in different stages of unconsciousness.

Laurel as the phrase was, was god sent, as she was able to recover first to help with the two infants. Lily, Heather, Iris and Samen were the ones that dropped into a comma state, though only Lily had not shifted from that into a sleep state in the last ten hours.

Vega knew Lily's heart rate was alarmingly slow, just that little bit lower than what was normal. He was still connected to her by the medical implant and the monitors attached in the room she was in. The AI could not open the door to her room as Vega was struggling to come up with any other idea than to have his first human charge since Mars being taken away when so vulnerable. Cascade had to reach out to open the door, not reacting as Vega lashed out reflexively. This was not right, and Cascade just absorbed the damage to his code, not fighting back. Riggs was just doing the equivalent of crying out in the Fortress systems from where he was trapped in Life Support.

It was just a few minutes for the Argenta man to get to Lily's room. An eternity of stress and desperation to come up with something better.

Valen was gentle as he put a hand on the girl's head, looking at the still features. She looked so small and just young to him right then, with the mask to help her breathe. No matter how much he knew humans were just naturally tiny, she just looked like a child right now.

He sighed and spoke as Valen ducked to press his head lightly to Lily's own. "I'm sorry my little lake lily… I almost wish you were not so tied to our damned selves right now."

With his head down, Vega could not see as the man mouthed the words 'forgive me,' as Valen knew Lily had started to be afraid of leaving the safety of the Fortress. The man carefully made sure to disconnect the girl from the monitoring system and wrapped Lily in a blanket. The sheer lack of any resistance, just…dead weight had Valen frowning in worry.

"Please do not take her from my Fortress." Vega finally spoke again, the AI could not identify the emotion that leaked into his voice. "I cannot protect Lily if you take her, Lord Valen."

"Do you have a better idea Vega?" Valen asked, looking up from making sure the small form was safely settled in his arms.

The long pause was very telling, as well as a soft static sound. Finally Vega spoke softly, "Please."

Valen closed his eyes for a moment, feeling not for the first time like the one that was evil. That burden weighting harder than the girl's weight in his arms. "I'm sorry, Atlan. I know you bond to your charges as you explained before. If everything goes according to plan, Lily won't leave the Slayer's vault until she's awake and can come back here."

"...don't forget her mask, Lord Valen. Lily will need regular doses of the medicine. There is no way to send a CPAP machine that can work."

Valen shifted, holding Lily against his front with one arm as he reached for the mask sitting on the big bed. Then slipped his helmet back on. The man walked back to the bridge, standing still as he waited to see if Vega had come up with anything better. Looking over at the same camera he had spoken to before.

"Do you swear Lily will not leave the Slayer's side unless it's to come back here?" Vega asked, almost demanded before raising the portal frame again. He knew all too well the infinity of possibilities of danger. Dangers that did not include demons or hell, or someone realizing about Lily's crystal heart.

This was such a bad idea and Vega could not come up with anything else to help without even more risks and danger.

"She will not leave the vault if I can help it." Valen vowed with all the feeling he could put into his voice. "I don't want to risk her anymore then needed to get her to the Slayer's side, Vega."

It was a good ten seconds before the portal frame lifted out of the floor and activated. Vega spoke again into the comms of Valen's helmet before the man started to walk. "You must keep checking that Lily is breathing. Her lungs are still very scarred, and she needs a CPAP under normal situations when asleep. Her heart rate and breathing are already alarmingly low for her normal range."

"I will," Valen agreed as he paused just before entering the portal, shifted to push the blanket over Lily's head just in case it might help. Then holding the girl close he stepped through. Feeling the familiar, uncomfortable pull on his bones first before his strides had Valen emerging into the vault. Looking at the progress of what was packed so far in the relatively short time he was gone.

Valen looked down in mild surprise as there was the smallest of shifting in his arms. Lily reacted to the portal even when unconscious, but the motion had been weak at best. It was something at least.

"Lord Valen?" Malum's voice asked, surprised that he was back so soon. Then paused as Malum saw how small of a form the once Commander held. Blue eyes widened as Malum realized that this mentioned 'Lily' was not a wife but a child?

…did the Slayer have an heir?!

When?!

That looked like a very young teen at most to Malum's eyes, if not someone closer to ten…?

"Malum," Valen greeted but paused as he looked down at who he held. Hesitated before speaking quietly, knowing the Sentinels at least would be fully focused on him. "This is no exaggeration, but you and your men must protect this child like they would their king. All of our souls will be forfeited if anything happens to her. Do you understand?"

"...she has the Slayer's energy in her?" Malum half demanded in shock, getting close enough to sense that. He looked down at Valen and glowing blue eyes widened at the confirming nod.

"Do not let anything happen to her," Valen warned, looking around at the warriors in the vault as it was for them. Not the surprised surviving civilians, though Jade was standing up and coming closer. The man paused to let Jade pull the blanket back and get a look at the girl.

"She's so small," Jade breathed, her own daughter not that much bigger, but also likely outweighed this girl by a bit already. "She's… human?"

"Yes, and recently was given a gift by the Mother Wraith Gaia." Valen explained, letting the women look Lily over. Seeing the protective instincts kicking in so to say. "Lily is connected to the Slayer, but no warrior make or trained. Thus her state, she's a child of peace before Hell invaded."

Malum could not help but hover, following Valen all the way back to the Slayer's room. Looking a mix of shock and concern as he couched to the side just inside the room. Watching intently as Valen walked right over to the sitting form.

The Slayer had not moved from sitting on the side of the bed where Valen had left him earlier. Green eyes unfocused and staring into the far distance. The Sentinel healer acting and the aid looked up from unsuccessfully trying to coax the once King to drink some tea. The first man sat up in surprise that Valen had brought someone back.

"Move," Valen said gently, slowed his pace and carefully sat on his knees before the Slayer. "Bi'Jay? …John?"

There was a faint twitching at the names this time. The Slayer took a breath and caught the familiar scent he knew well. Of physical, or that of a soul, or both, was unsure. Yet his fingers twitched and he looked down as Valen had shifted to take one of the Slayer's hands and set it on Lily's head.

The new god looked confused as he focused for the first time. Running his thumb over the small cheekbone before lifting his other hand. There was no resistance from Valen to transfer Lily from his arms into the other's. The Argenta man only made sure the Slayer was supporting the girl, watching but the big arms were surprisingly gentle as the Slayer focused on Lily, staring at the unconscious girl's face before ducking his head.

He pressed his head against Lily's as a broken sound came out of his chest. Feeling the coolness bleed off her and help cool his frame down.

"There you are," Valen hummed softly, he had not pulled back but kept a hand on the Slayer's shoulder, giving a little pressure. "John, she needs to rest, lay down my friend. You can protect your Flower, but let her rest, yes?"

The Slayer mouthed the word 'rest,' his eyes half lidded now, they were losing the green color and turning back to blue. Staring at the smaller human as he was guided to lay down with the child. Valen was careful not to break the Slayer's contact but he sighed in relief when the god settled on his side, before curling around the much smaller human.

Lily was tucked against her guardian, looking much younger than she was as she was cuddled. It took a few long minutes of waiting, and knowing Vega was watching intently through Valen's helmet. Lily shifted on her own for the first time, just a small movement of tucking her head closer to her guardian and a little sigh. It was a reaction nonetheless that Valen took as positive.

"There you go, let her sleep, John." Valen carefully gave his friend a pat on his side before pulling back. Watching as the other closed his eyes as well, looking almost content.

Backing up, Valen paused to motion the others away and to go back to the door, "Do not startle him right now. Just let him rest. Hopefully by tomorrow Lily will be upright, she and very few on the Fortress are free to annoy the Slayer with no recompressions."

"...there's more than one child?" Malum's low voice asked from where he was crouch-sitting by the door.

"He found the younger children on earth." Valen said honestly, "After he dragged me out of hell. The Lord Slayer brought me to his Fortress to protect her."

The white haired man nodded to where the girl was in the bed. "The main reason I came back to Argent D'nur was to find Sentinel wolves, and a puppy to bond to her. Maybe Heather too, as she seems to have been adopted into his care as well."

Malum lifted his head, almost level with Valen's as if not a little taller even with him crouched down. The current Commander glanced over his shoulder and then back to focusing fully on Valen. Then pointed to where the child had been put into the Slayer's arms. "Is that his heir?"

"No, not an heir to the broken throne." Valen said firmly, turning to face the altered Malum as he took his helmet off. "Lily will never get any bigger, she's a human mortal… that's bonded to the Slayer, but does not have the mentality to be a warrior. A healer maybe. He found her before I was dragged out of my isolation in Hell."

"...not an heir?" Malum shorted as he eyed the finally resting Slayer in the bed. Blue eyes slid back to Valen as the altered man asked a key question he realized. "...is he her sire?"

There was a pause before Valen spoke honestly, "Lily never knew her blood Sire. I know she was raised by her mother and an adopted father. The Slayer is her guardian now, and she seems happy in his protection, and in his Atlan's care."

"So she's his child." Jade spoke softly behind the two, startling the Sentinel Commanders to turn to look at her. "The… human child is his daughter, yes? Blood ties mean nothing to the Wraiths loving us, or making heirs. Why must the Lord Slayer be the blood sire to have a child?"

Jade motioned to Malum's altered form from the overflow of wraith energy.

Malum looked down at his hands, reminded very keenly of how different he was now. Gods that child's head likely fit in his palm… he looked between the two beside him, then over at the Slayer, and back to Valen. "Child of peace before hell… you said she must be protected? Then we will, more so if she's important to the Slayer."

Reviews!

.

XFireStoneX:
yes, the big momma is still here! lol at least one wolfy man