Chapter 24 – Welcome to the Weisman-verse – Part 2 – Ashen Wings
*DOOM*
Castle Wyvern
October 4, 2022
6:20 PM (2 minutes to Sunset)
I gaze at the stone Gargoyles in anticipation and excitement. The Gargoyles of the Eyrie Building are far different than the man-made statues meant to ward off evil. The majority are humanoids with digitigrade legs with knee spurs and ending each in three claws, muscular arms with elbow spurs and four claws on each hand. Many have a head of hair like a human, but instead of eyebrows they have bony ridges. Most importantly they have leathery wings and a muscular tail.
During the day, they hibernate as stone statues. An involuntary process that leaves them vulnerable, but also heals and invigorates them. Severe wounds that could kill a human are healed by the sun's energy. I pay close attention to a female Gargoyle with Japanese features, as she wasn't present in the original television show.
In this world, Gargoyles are the First Race, beings that predate humanity and their development of magic. Due to a special "chameleon gene" that assimilates the genetic traits of native creatures into their own bodies over time, mimicking the adaptations of the native life forms. While nearly all Gargoyles have the same base structure, there are those adapted to jungle environments and aquatic/marine environments. It's believed the original gargoyles resembled dinosaurs and many gargoyles in the world possess the beaks and crests of prehistoric creatures. It's also believed that modern Gargoyles resemble humans because of their symbiosis. A Gargoyle protects, a Gargoyle can more stop protecting than he can stop breathing the air. Humans make things that Gargoyles can protect, and over time Gargoyles became more human-like. They even developed the same ethnicity with Caucasian Gargoyles in Scotland and Asian Gargoyles in Japan and Korea.
As the sun finally sets, I watch cracks form on the grey stone. Soon, the rooftop is filled with roars as the sleepers awaken and stretch to greet the night. The stone skin explodes off in tiny fragments, as their eyes glow with hormone-triggered excitement.
"Wonderful. Witnessing the awakening of a Gargoyle Clan is wonderful." I say with a wide smile. This was a childhood dream come true.
The Gargoyles turn to my very deep voice in surprise. My voice is even deeper than Goliath's own voice (who was voiced by Keith David), so it has a lot of power to it. They are also shocked to see a man in biker leather who is even taller than Goliath.
"Greetings. I am Ash Grey. It's a Pleasure to meet you, Manhattan Clan." I say, giving a slight blow. I then move to greet each one.
"Goliath."
He's the leader of Manhattan Clan and was the Leader of the Wyvern Clan. He is a tall, muscular, and powerful Gargoyle male standing 208 cm (6 '10) and a weight of 181 kg (400 lbs.). He was the only named Gargoyle, due to the Scottish clan's tradition of not giving names, which is strange given that names were originally just descriptions to differentiate people and objects. He has named for his size and power, named after the biblical Goliath (who according to some scholars was 6'9). I know he is a Gargoyle of honor and lover of reading.
"Hudson"
The Elder of the Clan and its former leader. Gargoyles age at half the speed of humans, but Hudson is a hundred forty-four years old (not including the thousand years in magical stone sleep). That's the equivalent of seventy-two and he's still an impressive warrior. He has white hair and a beard, with a scar over one blind eye. He wears leathering clothing (unlike the males who dress in loincloths) and carries an oddly shaped sword. In modern times, he named himself after the Hudson River.
"Brooklyn"
The rufous-skinned, white-haired Brooklyn serves as the clan's second-in-command with a somewhat sarcastic and impetuous attitude but has a talent for tactics. Brooklyn named himself after the New York borough. What makes him very special is he's a Time Dancer. Due to the Phoenix Gate – a mystical item that allows for time travel, but only pre-destined paradoxes – he was sent to different time periods. When he emerged from the time stream, he had a family with him.
"Lexington"
A small, green-skinned Gargoyle with webbed arm wings instead of large bat-like wings. This gets him compared to a flying squirrel. He's the mechanical and technological genius of the group, having adapted the best to the modern era. If I remember correctly, he's homosexual (a gay gargoyle), so he probably gets more acceptance in this era. I do notice faint markings on his skin, which indicate he has implants. He must have been seriously injured, but at least he isn't a full cyborg.
"Broadway"
A large and somewhat overweight, but still very muscular and strong male with aquamarine skin, a bald head with three horns running over the center, and fin-like ears. He has a love of cooking and old movies, a hatred for guns (after accidentally shooting Elisa) and is the mate of Angela. One lesser-known fact about the gentle giant is he is Hudson's biological son, but Wyvern hatchlings were raised by the entire clan.
"Bronx"
A large dog-like Gargoyle beast that Is his clan's fierce protector. In truth, Garg Beasts are more closely related to Gargoyles. When comparing Gargates and Primates, Gargoyle beast would be the equivalent of chimpanzees. He growls at me; I'm guessing he can tell I'm extremely dangerous.
"Angela"
A beautiful female Gargoyle dressed in medieval clothing. She has the same dark eyes, dark purple skin, and long black hair of her biological father - Goliath, but she physically resembles her mother, Goliath's former mate - Demona. After the remains of the Wyvern Clan (Goliath, Hudson, Bronx, and the Trio) were turned into stone until the castle rose above the clouds, the Eggs were taken by the human survivors to the castle of Kenneth II, only for him to be killed and usurped by Constantine III. In order to escape Constantine, they travelled to the mystical faery island of Avalon. Time passed differently on the island, so Angela was a young woman after nearly a thousand years in the real world.
"Fu-Dog"
A green-skinned leonine gargoyle beast with a gold collar, closely resembling a Chinese statuary lion in appearance. He came from the Xanadu Clan in China, which has many gargoyle beasts. He was Brooklyn's first companion in time travelling and appeared with him in 1997 at the end of the Journey.
"Katana"
A pale blue beaked female Gargoyle. She is a Japanese Gargoyle from the Ishimura Clan, and wears clothing of Feudal Japan complete with a sword that shares her name. She joined Brooklyn in his time dance and is Brooklyn's mate and the mother of his children.
"Nashville"
Brooklyn and Katana's son hatched before he arrived in the modern era. He resembles Brooklyn but has his mother's pale blue coloration and blue-black hair. He's dressed in modern human clothing, modified for his physiology, but carries a Japanese sword like his mother.
"Tachi"
Brooklyn and Katana's daughter, who was hatched in '98. She resembles her mother but has her father's red-brown coloration with red-black hair. She is dressed in modern clothing, but more stylish and custom made than her brother, and she also carries a sword.
"I could say hello to Artus and the others, but isn't he the equivalent of a two-year-old? My own nieces and nephews wouldn't remember me at that age."
"You, said your name is Ash Grey? Why are you here?" asks Goliath
"Xanatos doesn't give tours." quips Brooklyn.
"I'm a Traveller from another universe. In my universe, we were attacked by a World Devourer, but the greatest genius in our universe managed to stall the beast. In order to finally kill it, I am seeking the forty-two fragments it scattered across the omniverse."
They have looks on their faces that say, "Are you Serious?"
Owen Burnett is standing next to me, so they can tell my words are serious, instead of prank.
"I was sent because I'm the one person the genius trusts the most and I'm the one thing that can survive anything." I continue my explanation, shifting to my true form. Some of the Gargoyles step back as I grow another seven inches. The red eyes, ash skin, and numerous bone spikes also add to the monstrous appearance.
"Doomsday!?"
I turn at the voice to see two women standing at the door.
One is a beautiful mature woman. She was born in 1968 to First Nation father and African American mother – Peter and Diane Maza. She encountered the Gargoyles when they awoke in '94 when she was twenty-six-year-old Detective Second Class in the 23rd Precinct. She helped the Gargoyles adjust to the new world and was a part of their adventures, eventually becoming Goliath's human mate. In 2022, the fifty-four-year-old looks close to forty at most. I can imagine she already made Captain.
"Eliza Maza"
One is a young woman I don't recognize. She looks a lot like Elisa in her mid-twenties, but her skin is a different shade and slightly taller. I also think her breasts are slightly larger, but it's hard to tell with her height. She is also dressed in a similar manner to classic Elisa with a black top, blue jeans, and black shoes with a red jacket. She is a police officer as I can tell she is carrying a concealed firearm.
"I don't recognize you. Ash Grey is my name; may you gift me with yours?"
"Jessica Maza. Detective Second Class in the 23rd Precinct." says a nervous Jessie, recognizing me from the comics.
I let out a deep laugh which would scare small animals.
"You did it! You actually managed to have a child." I say with a grin, turning to Goliath, "She doesn't have any Gargate features, so I'm guessing magic?"
"It was a gift from me." says Alexander Xanatos walking in, "I gave them a pair of rings that would allow them to voluntary transform into gargoyles at night and human during the day. It wasn't supposed to last long, but..."
"They forgot to use condoms." I quip, making most of the Clan blush in embarrassment, especially Goliath and Elisa.
This reminds me of the DeGuy fanfiction written by Stephen Sobotka (a wonderful piece)
"Hey! Hey! I don't want to know about my conception! What I want to know is why there is a fictional monster in front of me!? A comic book character!?"
"Comic Book?" says Alex looking confused, then his eyes widen. Slapping his forehead, "Superman comics."
"Alternate histories are possible. What is fictional in one universe can be history in another and vis versa. I am Ash Grey the Doomsday, a human from another world reincarnated into the body of the Ultimate Monster. The world I'm currently defending is a version of the DC Universe." I say, shocking the people who read comics or watched movies. "In my home universe, the events of this world are recorded as Disney's Gargoyles."
"DISNEY!?"
"In order to compete with DC's awesome Batman - the Animated Series, Disney created an animated series based on mythology. The first episode was the events of 994 and the awakening of the Gargoyles in 1994. The first season ended with the awakening of Coldstone. The second season started with Coyote freeing the pack and includes City of Stone and the Avalon adventures. The second season ends with the events of Hunter's Moon and your return to the Castle."
I look at Goliath and Elisa.
"I can imagine all the fans were cheering when you two kissed at the end of Episode. About Time!"
Goliath and Elisa are still blushing, and the rest of clans are stuck between shocked at my revelations and almost laughing at the couple.
"Wait. The Time Dance occurred after the events of Hunter's Moon, so how did you know about us" says Tachi.
"The creator Greg Weisman asked a lot of questions from biology to possible spinoffs. He also did some of comics that came after."
*DOOM*
Great Hall.
A few minutes later
"So." says Goliath, trying to regain his composure, "These Fragments. How dangerous are they?"
"In another universe one of them was found by an ordinary human. A greedy corrupt music producer with an unhealthy obsession, but still just human. It turned him into a psychotic lunatic and mutated him. He gained the ability to paralyze people and shoot homing lasers with his extra eyes. He was planning on burning a mansion full of orphaned girls after violating them. That was just one tiny Shard of the Red Sky."
Everyone looks pale at my words. Goliath, thinking of his own daughter and Elisa, now has his eyes glowing with rage, "Did you manage to stop him!?"
"Easily. I tank-ed his attacks, ripped off the infected arm, and destroyed the Fragment." I say with a proud smile
"Your immune to these 'Fragments', Lad?" asks Hudson.
"I'm Ash Grey the Doomsday. I heal from whatever harms me and become resistant to it, eventually becoming immune. Even if I die, I will resurrect immune to what killed me! After surviving fighting demon lords, dark gods, and Lovecraftian horrors, and surviving being hit by a super nova, I redefine the world Indestructible. I consumed the Fragments like a piece of candy."
"Consumed it?" asks Lexington, noting the word.
It could be because of The Archmage. He was an evil magic user who poised the prince because he wanted revenge for his banishment. He was believed killed, but due to a predestined paradox his older-self rescued him from falling to his death, then gave him the Grimorum Arcanorum, Eye of Odin, and the Phoenix Gate – three magical items that granted him ultimate power. The Grimorum – an ancient human spell book dating back to the time of Ancient Rome – couldn't be brought onto the Isle of Avalon, so he devoured the book making it a part of him. When Goliath removed the Eye of Odin during their fight, the Archmage couldn't control the power of Grimorum anymore and was incinerated. Goliath could have told his Clan how the Archmage died.
"..." I pause, feeling a little embarrassed in front of my childhood heroes, "I'm also considered to be a garbage disposal for magical items. Wonder Woman. Doctor Fate and Atlantis had me consume cursed artifacts so they could finally be rid of them. My powers of destruction and death are so great, that if I say - ate the Phoenix Gate, I would completely destroy it physically and magically. Including killing Phoenix – Permanently."
"You can kill something that is Immortal?" asks Alex, a little disbelief in his voice. I can understand, Xanatos been obsessed with Immortality when he was younger and I'm betting even now he spends a lot of money on youth-restorations.
"I can kill anything. Even things that don't understand the concept of death." I say, I elongate spikes on my right hand, "My best friend once used my venom to kill six dragons that had wiped out most of China. You can see why I was sent on this mission."
"Most impressive." says Alexander Xanatos at his side of the table, "So, how are you going to find the Fragment of the Red Sky in this world?"
"In the past six worlds, there has been a pattern. I find the perceived protagonists of any world and Shard tends to find them, usually in the possession of an antagonist. It's possible one of your enemies possesses the Fragment."
Everyone in the room looked upset at that revelation. The number of major antagonists in Gargoyles is impressive. Any of them coming in possession of a power-boosting insanity-inducing fragment of cosmic horror is a bad thing.
*Ring*
Elisa Maza then gets a call on her cell phone. She answers it and you can see his eyes widen. She then turns to the group
"Anton Sevarius is dead. They found a body."
*DOOM*
Hidden Lab of Dr. Anton Sevarius
Former Gen-U-Tech Warehouse, Docks, NY
Later.
1POV
Gen-U-Tech is a subsidiary corporation of Xanatos Enterprises, specialized in genetic and biomedical research and development. It was once the playground for Dr. Anton Sevarius who conducted experiments with about as much mercy and morals as Dr. Joseph Mengele. He eventually left Xanatos's employment and Xanatos (partial) reformation has him employee far more ethical people. This Warehouse originally belonged to Cyberbiotics was bought by Xanatos Enterprises, was later sold to Nightstone Unlimited and then sold back to Xanatos after the company's fall.
Inside, behind the fake walls, empty crates, and bits of garbage that indicate an empty abandoned warehouse, the real lab is housed in a bunker accessed by a hidden trapdoor. It's a place filled with tables loaded with machines and glassware and computers powered by generators and connected using satellite uplinks to proxy servers. Most importantly, there are many cages. These cages are loaded with mutated humans and animals, most of them dead or wishing they were dead.
The police officers can barely keep the look of horror off their faces at what they see in the cages. There are homeless people who mutated into hybrids of human and different animals, sometimes multiple animals to create horrific chimeras. There are also some former humans that have been injected with an unknown substance. A substance that makes the veins glow red and deforms them with numerous pulsating tumors. The officers can see tentacles, exposed muscle, extra eyes, and teeth inside blobs of flesh.
The corpse of Dr. Anton Sevarius is on the floor, dead from a bullet wound to the head. Other irregularities with the body include needle marks on his arm, discolored pale skin, and his eyes are red with bloody tears staining the skin around them.
"First thought was he was high on his own drugs and shot himself, but we didn't find the needle. He found a handgun nearby, but the only prints on the gun belonged to the victim." says one of cops, covering his mouth. The smell of blood and industrial grade sanitizers is very strong.
"Dr. Sevarius was a too self-absorbed to kill himself." says Jessica
"The Fragment was here." I comment looking at a glass apparatus.
"Hey!" yells one of the no-name cops, "Who the hell are you?"
A seven-foot muscular man in a trench coat appearing out of nowhere is not normal. Even in a world where magic and super science is real, and everything is secretly run by faery kings and the Illuminati, a giant detective decloaking is still strange.
"This is a crime scene!" says his partner.
"Special investigator. This criminal was in possession of a dangerous substance. A substance which was injected into several of his test subjects and into himself. You can tell by the red bioluminescence of the flesh of the subjects. Also, heroin or cocaine would not have turned the doctor's eyes that shade of red. The source is not here, so must be in possession of the killer."
"Dangerous substance. You don't mean radioactive, do you?" says the first cop, suddenly worried about the glowing corpses.
"Yes." I reply, shocking all the police including Jessica Maza.
"Wait! You never mentioned that!?" says Jessie.
"I didn't? It's low level, so you should find as long as you don't touch the body fluids." I say with a casual voice, my inner monster grinning, "Just in case, have some RadAway."
I pulled a box of tablets from my Inventory, while making it look like it was in my trench coat.
"Cognito-Brand RadAway?" says one of the no-name cops looking at the box.
"For when you're handling nuclear material or surviving a post-war apocalypse. It keeps the rad sickness away."
They gulp down the pills and I suspect it's not the only reason they are gulping.
I look down at the corpse and go over what I know (helped the Gamer Identify ability)
Dr. Antoine Bartholomew "Anton" Sevarius. A brilliant, megalomaniacal, and immoral geneticist. He used to work for Cyberbiotics but was eventually convinced to work for Xanatos Enterprises. With Xanatos's unlimited funding and lack of moral restraint, Dr. Sevarius was able to go beyond normal limits. Xanatos wanted Gargoyles of his own after his conflict with Goliath and the clan, so the mad doctor began to work. He experimented on homeless people transforming them into hybrid mutates resembling Gargoyles with one of the victims being Elisa's brother Derek Maza. He was also responsible for the creation of Goliath's evil clone – Thailog and the mutation of the Pack member Wolf into a Wolf mutate per his request.
Even after he left Gen-U-Tech, he continued his amoral acts which include attempting to capture Nessie (Loch Ness Monster) for experimentation, making clones of the entire Manhattan Clan (minus Angela) for Demona and Thailog, making a clone of Demona with Elisa's face for Thailog, and making a biological weapon virus for Demona.
His most recent act (I remember) was back in '97 when Dr. Sevarius working for an unknown employer, transformed several homeless people into mutates and attempted to detonate a CV-1997 virus bomb in Time Square. Thankfully, he was stopped by the Redemption Squad - a group of individuals who have betrayed or threatened peace and justice in the world and now seek to redeem themselves by fighting on the side of the angels. A group set up by someone who's against the Illuminati and have all been enemies of the Gargoyles.
"How many people wanted this Wack job dead?" asks no-name number one
"A lot of people. Destine and her Ex would kill him if he wasn't useful. It wasn't the Clan; they were with us during the explanation. That leaves one group to investigate." I whisper to Jessica, "We need to talk to your Uncle Talon."
Suddenly, there is a loud bang and a roar. One of the mutated creatures, one the size of a medium dog, bursts out of its cage. The monster leaps at the throats at the police officers, but I'm quick to grab it. It resembles one of the Cerebrus – the zombie dogs from Resident Evil – so it's no wonder it was mistaken for a corpse. A skinless canine with wet infected red-purple flesh and glowing red eyes. As it struggles in my grip, its jaw splits open and barbed tentacles emerge. It doesn't scare me, instead I twist the abomination until I can hear the bones break. It struggles even with massive internal damage, but then the glow fades from its eyes and its cooling red flesh turns to a deathly bluish purple.
The two no-name police officers stare at me in shock.
"When I was younger, I had some memorable nightmares. A huge monster covered in sharp spikes attacked me in the school auditorium—the Gym. I twisted the gym monster's head until his neck snapped. A canine monster leaped at my throat in the library. I grabbed the demon dog and twisted it until its spine broke. A masked slasher chased me in the hallways. I hide behind a locker than beat the slasher to death with a baseball bat. My solution to all three was the same – I Killed All My Nightmares."
We need to find the missing Fragment of the Red Sky and whatever stuff that was in those vials before my childhood dream turns into nightmare and I must kill it.
*DOOM*
Labyrinth
New York Underground
A little later (I don't bother to look at a clock)
1POV
The Labyrinth is a giant underground complex that was once owned by Cyberbiotics. The Gargoyles found this place during their first adventures, when Xanatos tricked the clan into stealing data from two secure sites of Cyberbiotics. This data would be used by Xanatos to create flying robotic doppelgängers of Goliath known as the Steel Clan Robots. After the failure, the facility was abandoned and ended up inhabited by numerous homeless. It is currently the home of the Labyrinth Clan – a clan composed of mutated humans and clones of the Manhattan Clan both created by Dr. Sevarius' mad science.
Jessica and I are having a meeting with the Mutate half of the underground clan.
Talon - the clan's leader. He was once Elisa Maza's impulsive brother, who was manipulated by Xanatos and then transformed into a hybrid of human, panther (leopard), bat, and electric eel DNA. After learning the truth, he reconciled with his sister and eventually rose as the leader of the Labyrinth. What's interesting is after Renard died, Derek Maza was given ownership of the former Cyberbiotic facility, so Talon legally owns The Labyrinth and can keep developers from attempting to steal it.
"So, Dr. Sevarius is finally dead. We have believed him to be dead multiple times, but the rat bastard always shows up with a new scheme."
"We have a body at the morgue, Uncle. He's dead."
"Unless he's making clones of himself"
"Huh?" asks Derek and Jessica.
"In some universes, Dr. Sevarius escapes permanent death by using a series of clones. My friend Rorschach has something similar called Operation: Phoenix. If he or someone he has contracted is killed, their minds/souls are transferred to a new clone body."
"Are you kidding me?! An Immortal Sevarius!" says Talon.
I remember fondly reading the wonderful works of Christine Morgan. Since the omniverse is infinite, fanfiction universes are just as valid as canon universes.
"In that world, you hunted down Sevarius to make sure your children would be alright. You found out he even mutated his own son into a Sasquatch and ended up killing the Doc. Later, he kidnapped Maggie and Elisa nearly died saving the children. You killed him again! He then ended up downloaded into sex bot created for Goliath's stag party."
Maggie the Cat – She was once known as Maggie Reed, a girl from Ohio who came to Manhattan to pursue a career in acting. She ended up homeless and was approached by Dr. Sevarius who tricked her and mutated her into a hybrid of human, lion, bat, and electric eel DNA. She became Talon's second in command and eventually the mother of his twin children.
Maggie's Twins look more human than their parents. While the parents have full panthera faces, the twins look like Thundercats with Wings. I also noticed the lion/panther hybrids are physically stronger than their parents which reminds me of Ligers – the immense hybrids of lion and tigers. Slightly older than Jessica, they are taller than their parents. They are currently looking at their father with raised eyebrows.
"Sex bot?" asks Maggie with a tone that makes Derek nervous.
"Nothing like that happened in this world. We just raided Xanatos's man cave." says Talon, shaking his head. Then he turns to Ash, "Seriously, a sex robot?"
"Xanatos made a large breasted gargoyle gynoid designed by a comic book artist to serve as a stripper for the Stag Party."
Claw – A mutated young man who lost his ability to speak, when he was mutated into a hybrid of human, tiger, bat, and electric eel DNA. He originally worked as Janitor at Gen-U-Tech until the mad doctor decided to turn him into a test subject. While he was once manipulated by the evil mutate Fang (who's now part of the Redemption Squad), he now serves as Talon's Labrinth Clan protecting the clones, mutates, and homeless.
Claw must be blushing under his tiger fur. He's a shy, kind-hearted person, so I only imagine what that image is doing to his poor mind.
The clone clan are helping the homeless residents of the Labyrinth.
Delilah – A clone of the Gargoyle Demona with her appearance modified with Elisa Maza DNA. She was created for Thailog to be a superior mate to Demona, both as a warrior and bed partner. She was abandoned by Thailog and was one of the first clones to develop independence. I'm betting it was awkward when Elisa's parents met their winged relative.
What surprised many people is she was able to get pregnant and laid her own Egg. Her son Solomon looks a lot like her, only his coloration is not inverted like his mother (which was caused by the cloning process). He's the same age as Artus as the same generation of Gargoyles are laid and hatched at the same time. In a future spin-off, there was a Deliath II fighting on the side of rebellion against the Space-Spawn occupation of Earth. I'm guessing Solomon is her ancestor.
Malibu, Burbank, and Hollywood – The clones of Brooklyn, Hudson, and Broadway, respectively. They stayed with Deliliah, when Thailog returned. Lexington's clone –Brentwood – remained Loyal to Thailog and that loyalty eventually resulted in his death. I must admit the inverted coloration does make them look more intimidating than their originals but watching them play with the homeless kids makes me laugh.
Benny, Erin, and Thug – They are mutates created by Dr. Sevarius in '97. Their DNA was combined with different animals - Woodlouse, turtle, and crocodile, respectively. They worked for the mad doctor due to his promise of a cure but returned to the Labyrinth when they learned he had no cure.
There was a fourth member, a girl called Tasha who was fused with Armadillo. When she discovered that Sevarius had no intention of curing her of her current condition, she hung herself in front of Benny, Erin, and Thug.
"Getting back on topic. A lot of people wanted Dr. Sevarius dead, but it wasn't any of us. There haven't been any new arrivals and none of the regular went missing during the time frame he was killed." says Talon, "If Dr. Sevarius is truly dead, then any hope of a cure is gone, but we have already accepted that fact."
"Does magic work on you?" I ask.
"Yes. We have been stunned by magic and mind controlled once." says Talon.
"What don't you have Alex make something?"
There is a pause. The Mutates were created using science, so it's understandable they would focus on looking for scientific cure but did never consider magic. Alex is no longer a little boy getting instructions from Puck, he's an adult who has gained approval from his grandmother – Titania, Queen of the Third Race. Talon is about to explain or make an excuse, when my communicator beeps.
"Cognito Inc Homeless Package? Rorschach sent you a care package." I read on the machine.
A monochromatic portal opens with a thunderous sound, scaring the homeless and the clone clan. I notice that this portal is little different from his regular portals, resembling the Boom Tubes used by the New Gods. I don't know why the reason, but the portal soon releases large containers that pile in the center of the Labyrinth. The portal then closes with a loud crack.
"What the fuck was that!?" says one random homeless man. They are unemployed with no social security, but can they be called homeless when the owner of the places lets them call his place their home?
"Calm down people! You just got a donation from Cognito Inc – the best company in the multiverse. Back in my home world, these guys make the best stuff, clean the environment, and care for refugees and the homeless. My buddy decided you could need a few things."
"What kind of things?" asks another resident of Labyrinth.
"There is a computer tablet with the Inventory." I pointed to said object on top of one of the crates. Deliah walks over to the crate and picks up the tablet. After many years, her reading ability has improved greatly.
"Cognito Inc Maintenace-free Water Purifiers. Cognito Inc Food Rations. Cognito Inc Power Generator. Cognito Inc Self-cleaning Toilets. Cognito Recycling Units. Cognito Inc Foam Beds and Sheets– stain-resistant water-proof antibacterial hypoallergenic. Cognito Inc Maintenance and Repair Robots. Cognito Inc Green Gardens – hydroponic farming. Cognito Medical Supplies. Cognito Baby Supplies. Cognito Cleaner Slimes – Warning: Aggressive?"
The crowd watches typical blue Cleaner Slimes emerge from one of the crates.
"Are those Oozes!? When did life turn into a video game."
"Calm down. Those are Cleaning Slimes." I call out, "They only eat dirt and filth."
Suddenly, one of the slimes jumps on a particular homeless person and envelops the person. The people panic for a minute with the Gargoyles attempting to get the blue gel off the victim, but then the slime comes off and reverts into its small blob form.
The "victim" is a young woman, who only recently joined the Labyrinth a month ago. The crowd can only stare at the woman's transformation. Her once dirt-stained skin a now completely clean and his long hair which was once oily and matted, is silky clean and shiny - as if she had been shampooed in a professional salon. Her old clothing, while still worn and torn, is now completely clean and sterile. The difference is so severe her clothing is several shades lighter in color. Even her gray headband is now virgin white and looking brand new.
"So that is what he meant by Aggressive. This place will end up cleaner than a hospital's surgery."
"Is this normal?" asks Jessica Maza.
"I'm guessing they are the type of cleaners he normally sends to me. I can get pretty dirty after battles, and you don't want eldritch gunk eating through your clothing. Or in your case, it would also be your body, mind, and soul." I say with a grin, "You should see the Ocean Cleaners – they are super-giant versions in our world that are cleaning the oceans of pollution."
"Save dolphins?" asks one little girl next to her mother.
"Save all the dolphins."
I think the Ocean Cleaners would get Lobo's stamp of approval.
*DOOM*
Tunnels near the Labyrinth
11:45
3POV
A group has assembled with malice in their hearts. Most of them are dressed in dark blue-gray metal armor that makes them resemble high-tech knights with large pauldrons. They have hooded faces with white eyes surrounded by black and symbols on their chests – gold hammers in gold ringed black circles. Many of them were carrying large guns and electrically charged sledgehammers. Two of them are unique, as their armors are more advanced (being actual powered exoskeletal armor, instead of augmented body armor). The symbols on their chests are different including three gold slashes.
The Hunter – Centuries ago, the son a farmer was clawed across the face by a bitchy Demona. Gillecomgain vowed to kill Demona and all her kind donning a mask with three slashes representing his facial scars. Prince Duncan took up the mask when Demona and her clan (one she gathered after Castle Wyvern) interfered with his attempts to assassinate his cousin Macbeth. After him, Duncan's son Canmore took up the mantle to avenge his father's death, beginning the tradition of passing the role of Hunter to progeny.
The current Hunter is Jon Canmore, a man who as child witnessed Demona kill his father - Charles Canmore – with his siblings Robyn and Jason. There reckless attempts to kill the Gargoyles led them to fire missiles at the police station where the Manhattan Clan had been roosting. The conflict ended with Jason's spine being broken, Robyn joining a group of reformed criminals called the Redemption Squad, and Jon changing his accent and hair color to become Jon Castaway, the Leader of the anti-gargoyle para-militant organization known as the Quarrymen.
Jon Canmore was arrested for his acts of terrorism which he committed in her pursuit of the Gargoyles. His secret wife and his son continued his legacy as all Canmores have done through the centuries. When his son had amassed enough money and technology, the Nu-Quarrymen arose from the shadows. The new Quarrymen are not civilians driven into a frenzy by passionate words, instead they are mercenaries and even zealots that believe the Gargoyles to be demons in flesh. They were trained for years to begin their sacred mission. Jon's son – Charles Castaway – broke out his father, as Charles' girlfriend is carrying his child, he's confident that if something goes wrong – the heir will continue their legacy.
"It's been too long since I fought the Beasts." says Jon Canmore/John Castaway. "I don't just want them to die. I want them to suffer!"
"Our spy has confirmed it, father." says Charles, "Maza's freak brother and his clan of freaks and cloned beasts are hiding in an old Cyberbiotics base. Jessica Maza is currently there with a giant of man dropping off charity donations."
"Jessica Maza, the daughter of humanity's traitor! The perverse lover of Goliath." says one Quarryman.
Charles and Jessica encountered each other when they were younger. At first, he was taken by her beauty, but then he learned the truth. How she hides her devil heritage, he doesn't know.
"Tonight, the Gargoyles will know true pain and loss. Tonight, our Revenge Begins!"
*DOOM*
Labyrinth
New York Underground
A little later (I don't bother to look at a clock)
1POV
"So, let me get this straight. Vinnie Grigori encountered the Gargoyles multiple times due to his bad luck. Lexington scared him and accidentally drove his motorcycle into a wall. He was a security guard for Cyberbiotics, on board Fortress-1 when Goliath and Demona destroyed it. He was a security guard at Gen-U-Tech when Goliath kidnapped Sevarius trying to help the Mutates. His revenge was a cream pie to Goliath's face after Goliath finished fighting Wolf possessed by his ancestor Hakkon." says Talon, getting the facts straight, "He was almost killed by a falling fragment of the Hunter's airship and was recruited into the Quarrymen, but he ended up saving Goliath and Elisa. He then moved to Japan and encountered the Ishimura clan and attended the PIT gathering in 2014?"
"Correct." I reply.
"Thankfully, that guy is leading a more normal life with a girl he encountered in PIT"
People for Interspecies Tolerance – a young group of people who want peaceful relationships with Gargoyles, mostly composed of people rescued by Gargoyles, optimistic students, and people that hate Quarrymen, and their friends and families. They are considered the polar opposite of the Quarrymen. John Castaway's arrest for terrorism caused a major shift and PIT has expanded with worldwide organization with the second largest group being in Japan.
Even I don't know how we ended up talking about Vinnie. Jessica mentioned to Talon how another universe saw their universe as fiction and Talon was curious about that they missed.
Suddenly, there is a huge explosion, and the citizens of the Labyrinth can only watch in horror as the Quarrymen enter the heart of the Labyrinth.
The Clones and Claw are the first ones to respond to the attack, but these new Quarrymen don't panic like bigoted civilians in masks. Instead, they anticipate the movements of the roaring Gargoyles and manage to shoot them. In addition to the solid projectile weapons, they also have particle beams that burn through their targets. The clan are lucky to survive, but are soon surrounded by Quarryman, some caught in electrified nets.
"Kill them All! No Mercy to Traitors!"
The Quarrymen open fire with their automatic weapons and I see several people die in a hail of gunfire. Some of the dwellers manage to jump into rooms and use the concrete walls as barriers. I notice one Quarryman is about to shoot an African American woman that was carrying for the young children.
I jump down triggering by Whip fist and the fibrous mass of flesh and blades whips between the woman and the Quarryman. It's closer to the Quarryman as the blades slash open his throat in a spray of blood. I land on the ground and then put myself in front of the woman.
Another Quarryman attempts to hit me with his electrically charged hammer, but the fool is shocked when the hammer bounces off my far more durable body. I grab the hammer and swing it upward, delivering a blow that explosively shatters the mercenary's jaw and snapping his neck. I then turn and throw "my" hammer at the Quarryman assassin attempting to attack Jessica from behind. I throw the hammer with a little too much force as it makes a massive crater in the concrete wall. The Quarryman Assassin also drops to the ground missing his head.
The Quarryman paused to look at me. A seven-foot man possessing incalculable superhuman strength and immunity to their infamous hammers is something to wary of. The fact I can generate a bladed whip of eldritch flesh sends shivers up their spines.
"Who are you!?" says Canmore, his original accent coming out. "Who dares face the Quarrymen!?"
"My name is Ash Grey." I say, slowly walking towards them without a hint of fear, "You have three options. One, you can run and hope I don't hunt you down. Two, you can surrender and live. Three, you can fight me and die at my hands."
They open fire with their rifles, and I watch the large bullets moving towards me at a relativistic snail pace. After fighting speedsters in the Earth-DR, the fastest bullets move so slow. I move in the frozen world, reaching out and grabbing each bullet. I don't bother trying to keep the bullets intact, they explode into metal droplets in my palm and my hand just contains the splatter. I just let the near light particle beams hit without concern. I do notice that some of beams are invisible to normal eyes without the red targeting laser.
The Quarrymen, the Clan, and the homeless can only watch as my arm becomes a blur and catches the large armor-piercing rounds fired from the high-power rifles. The particle beams create explosions of plasma when they hit, but don't even damage my clothing.
"You have chosen death." I say as my eyes glow with my charging Death-Vision, "You don't face a Gargoyle bound by Honor to Protect. You don't fight a Human bound by the laws of society. You don't face a Fey bounded by Oberon's Edict. You face a Walking Apocalypse!"
The brilliant beams of destruction shoot out of my eyes. I start on the far left and sweep to the far right. The intense beams of gamma and cosmic radiation burn through their targets – metal and armor, flesh and bone. I'm reminded of The Boys: Diabolical and carnage caused by Laser Baby and Homelander's vision attacks. There are also explosions caused by ammunition and power cells violently detonating from my optical lasers.
"This can't be! What is that monster!?" says Charles Castaway. Only he and his father have survived due to their power armor. He can only stare at his men – his trained soldiers of humanity – reduced to chunks of burnt meat on the floor of a dirty concrete floor. He wouldn't probably be vomiting at the smell of cooked flesh if it wasn't for his helmet. I think I can hear a few Labyrinth Dwellers vomiting in the background.
Jon Canmore (John Castaway) and Charles Castaway activate all their weapons. Particle beam emitters and rocket launchers rise from hidden panels ready to turn the Labyrinth into a firestorm, but I have already made my move. A combination of my speed and stealth, and I'm now behind Charles. Charles doesn't have a chance to react and by nano-edge bone spike pierces his back, piercing armor, spine, and organs, before emerging from Charle's chest. The unimaginably sharp tip slices through the Quarryman symbol on his chest.
"Charles!" cries out Jon, fearing for the life of his only son.
"Things are far worse than you know." I say as I lift the man and his power armor off the ground. Charles is starting to vomit blood into his helmet, "Maria and Sophia."
The eyes of both Hunters widen at the names of their wives.
"You should have stayed home with your wife, Charly-boy. Your nine-month pregnant wife went into labor, and this could have been your happiest day." I say with a low cold tone The dwellers can hear me and even they have a sense of growing dread. "Instead, your mother feared for her daughter-in-law and tried to drive her to the hospital. She really was a bad driver. She went through a red light and got T-boned by a big truck."
The father and son pale at my words, knowing I'm telling the truth. It is true as I'm getting the information from Rorschach's Party Gamer. I can feel his pain and sorrow, and it is delicious.
"The driver of the truck survived, but Maria, Sophia, and your nearly born son didn't survive. Maybe you'll meet them in Purgatory, before you fall into Hell!" I pull out my spike and blood sprays from the damage. Charles Canmore's life ends before his armored form can hit the ground.
Jon Canmore roars in rage and pain, opening fire with all his weapons, but I've already moved close to him. Far too close to fire his long-range weapons. The Labyrinth Dwellers, including the Clan members freed from nets by some of the braver residents, shield themselves from the light and heat. When the fire and smoke clears, I'm holding the last Hunter off the ground with one hand.
Jon Canmore's power armor is badly damaged with many breeches, severely damaged emitters, and exposed circuitry. Hydraulic fluid drips onto a concrete floor stained with many other fluids. Electricity also arcs across the armor from a severely damaged power system. Even the helmet is broken, revealed a face with burns and deep cuts (resembling claw marks Ironically). Jon's HUD shows nothing but error messages before it dies completely.
"You Canmores make me laugh. You spent generations attempting to kill an Immortal Gargoyle. Thanks to Faery Ritual, Demona regained her youth to help Macbeth fight against Duncan. By the time the first Canmore dawned the clawed mask of Gillecomgain it was already too late." I say loud enough for the Hunter to hear, "The magic means only Demona and Macbeth can kill each other. All of you Hunters died for nothing including your father and son! Your brother is broken, and your sister has chosen the path of the Hero. Feel Despair Hunter, you are the last of your kind and die having accomplished nothing."
I release my hellish flame breath on my victim. With his shields disabled, the intense heat easily melts through the metal and plastic of his power armor. His loud scream is cut short as flesh burns away. I drop the armored corpse to the ground and the smoke blows away to reveal the charred head and glowing metal of the armor.
Jessica Maza stares at me, wanting to ask questions, but having problems saying a word in her shock.
"I do what I want to do. I help others because I feel like helping them, but I'm no Hero. I have fought monsters from space and demons from hell, but I am a Monster and I have long since accepted this. I will destroy all enemies in my path and no law of man or God will stop me."
Unknown to the Labyrinth Dwellers, but detected by my senses, there is a hidden camera spying on this massacre.
*DOOM*
My meeting with Manhattan Clan after the fight in the Labyrinth was noisy. They weren't happy with the Quarrymen invasion, they were happy we stopped the Quarrymen, and they weren't happy with me slaughtering the Quarrymen, like animals. I did get a little mouthy and Goliath ended up breaking his hand when he punched me. Goliath said he never punched anything as hard as me, including the time the weakened Oberon transformed into crystal during their duel on Avalon.
Trying to punch me is like trying to piece the hull of aircraft carrier with a stick of warm butter.
*DOOM*
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10028, U.S.
October 5, 2022
7:00 PM (29 minutes after Sunset)
3POV
The Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York City, colloquially "the Met", is the largest art museum in the Western Hemisphere. Its permanent collection contains over two million works, divided among 17 curatorial departments. The Museum closed for the day at 5 pm.
The Met has had many controversial art pieces over the years. The introduction of Gargoyle art was one of the most recent additions. The Quarryman supporters attempted to vandalize the museum, while the PIT's promotion of the pieces led to a swell in visitors.
The newest piece is the Gargoyle Statue. A Gargoyle statue that is so old and flawless, it was thought to be fake. The Gargoyle Statue is a young beautiful female Gargoyle with closed eyes and long flowing hair with braids. She has the same features as most Gargoyles – denigrate legs with knee spurs ending in large talons, athletic arms with elbow spurs ending in claws, a long muscular tail, and huge leathery wings that when closed act like a cape. She sits in an odd position as if she was holding something between her cupped clawed hands. Every feature is captured in perfect detail despite tests saying it was made eleven thousand years ago. She is also completely nude which just added to the controversy.
The Cameras switch off as a figure walk towards the "Gargoyle Priestess". That person is a female Gargoyle with blue skin and wild red hair (gold above her eyebrows). She's dressed in a simple one-strap top, and a loincloth secured by a leather belt. She also has a gold bracelet on her upper left arm and a gold anklet around her right ankle.
Demona – Goliath's former mate and second-in-command, whose actions led to the destruction of the Wyvern Clan. She's an immortal due to faery magic and has spent centuries trying to destroy humanity. She has been in denial for centuries over her own actions, blaming them on others to counter her guilt and loneliness. She betrayed Castle Wyvern to the Vikings which led to her clan being massacred. She maimed a boy which led to the birth of the Hunter, who massacred the other Gargoyle clans in Scotland. She betrayed Macbeth to the English due to her paranoia, which led to the last of her own clan dying. She acts like the Manhattan Clan betrayed her, but she is one that betrayed them over and over again.
Her last major scheme was the Hunter's Moon in which she planned to use the CV-1000 Carrier Virus to destroy humanity but was stopped when Goliath destroyed the Praying Gargoyle that would have protected Gargoyles from the virus. That was not the first time the statue had been destroyed. Demona once used the statue to awaken the Stone Gargoyles of Paris but was stopped by a group of humans including Fiona Canmore – the Hunter of that era.
Demona carefully pulls out a small bag and removes the broken fragments of the Praying Gargoyle.
The Praying Gargoyle is a magical artifact associated with the gargoyle race. It was created by the people of Atlantis to protect its protectors, using a combination of stone skin, Atlantean crystal, and powerful magic. The magic is so powerful that if broken it will regenerate if placed in holy grounds, only needing sixty years to do so.
Demona places the fragments between the statue's cupped hands and chants in the Ancient Atlantean language.
"Priestess of the Blue Sky, Protect the Protectors. Bring Hope to the Darkest Night."
The beautiful nude statue emits a turquoise glow and the fragments of the Praying Gargoyle float between her claws. The fragments glow brightly, then in a flash the Praying Gargoyle is restored.
"Far easier than waiting sixty years. Now for the other prize."
She raises her open palm to the statue and begins to chant. Slowly tiny specks of turquoise light emerge from Priestess Statue and start to fuse together into a growing crystal in her blue hand.
"Who are you!? Hands above your head!"
Demona curses at the speed of security, but she has what she came for and vanishes with the help of a smoke grenade.
*DOOM*
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10028, U.S.
October 5, 2022
9:00 PM (2 hours 29 minutes after Sunset)
1POV
"You called about a glowing crystal and a blue Gargoyle?"
"Yes, Mame" says the security guard, "The cameras in this wing suddenly went dark, so I went to investigate. I saw a female Gargoyle, like an older version of Angela but blue with red hair. She was doing something and holding a floating blue crystal like out of Final Fantasy or the Tales series."
"You know Angela?" says Detective Jessica Maza.
"I was one of the original members of the PIT! I got to meet her back when I was still a student."
"The problem is that was Angela's psychotic mother – Demona."
"Demona?" asks the guard.
"Her mistakes got a lot of people killed and instead of taking responsibility she blames humanity. Last time she showed up, she attempted to release a biological weapon!"
"Holy Shit!" says the guard, "So what was the magic crystal about."
"You have a sample?" asks Jessica.
"I think a little bit feel to the floor when she made her exit." says the guard – Jake Jefferson according to his nametag. He hopes up a small, sealed container with two tiny glowing turquoise crystals. "I borrowed some science gear to pick it up. Didn't want to risk touching glowing crystals."
"Smart man." I comment, "Atlantean Crystal. If you get scratched by it, your entire body will crystallize."
"Atlantean?" asks Jake.
Jessica is wondering if she somehow inherited her parents' talent for attracting weirdness.
*DOOM*
Castle Wyvern
Eyrie Building, NY
October 5, 2022
Time: Nowhere near dawn, so don't care.
1POV
"This isn't a fragment of Fragment of the Red Sky. It's a piece of Atlantean crystal. A fragment of a comet that crashed on Earth around 10000 BC and the Atlantean people developed a culture around it. Eventually they created an advanced civilization using magi-tech powered by those crystals. Around 9386 B.C, the misfiring of a weapon caused all of Atlantis to sink."
The Manhattan Clan listened to my words carefully. The Xanatos clan is also listening to me talk.
"What concerns all of you is the Praying Gargoyle statue. It was created by the ancient Atlanteans using a combination of stone skin, Atlantean crystal, and powerful magic. It was created by Ancient Atlanteans to protect their protectors."
"How exactly did you know about them?" comes another voice
I turn to see two very familiar faces, but one looks older. One is a slender, young-looking, and handsome man. He has light brown hair streaked with grey, fair skin, brown eyes, thick matching eyebrows and large black spectacles. The other is a beautiful woman with white long hair, large blue eyes, brown skin and a toned physique. She has blue colored tattoos and a familiar crystal necklace.
"I know many things, Milo and Kida." I say looking at the protagonists of Atlantis: The Lost Empire. "I know a lot of secrets, because I am not of this world."
After Milo and Kida greet the gargoyles, I continue.
"Dr. Milo James Thatch. Born 1882 in Fishkill, New York. You were thirty-two when they laughed at you for believing in Atlantis. What no one knew then was you would eventually find the Lost Empire of Atlantis. Eventually marrying Kidagakash Nedakh – the Princess of still living Atlanteans." I say with a smile, "Kida was born before the sinking of Atlantis, meaning she is thousands of years old while looking twenty something."
"You shouldn't talk about a lady's age." says Kida, "Also, while it's true I was child during the sinking of Atlantis, Atlantis became disconnected from the normal flow of time for most of that era."
"Like Avalon" says Angela, referring to how time passes slower on the Island of Third Race.
"In 1920, Demona found the Praying Gargoyle in the catacombs and attempted to use it to destroy the humans of Paris by taking control of the city's gargoyle statues. In the ensuing battle with Fiona Canmore and Team Atlantis, the Praying Gargoyle was destroyed. The statue was regenerated after sixty years and she attempted to use it to protect Gargoyles, while wiping out humans with a virus. She failed again. What I don't know is what's the Praying Gargoyle's connection to the Gargoyle Priestess."
"Fiona Canmore." asks Brooklyn
"She was the Hunter after her brother Jackson was killed. She also took part in training new generations of Hunters, including Jason, Robyn, and Jon Canmore." I comment. I also know she is a member of the Illuminati and even attempted to recruit her niece Robyn and the Redemption Squad.
I suspect Milo and Keda are members of the Illuminati, they probably made a deal with the leader - Peredur fab Ragnal - "The Fisher King" - to protect the city from being found and exploited by the rest of the world. Xanatos – also a member of the Illuminati – probably informed them, which is why they are here.
Steel Clan Robots wheel in the nude statue of the female Gargoyle.
"Her name is Cyanea – Blue Sky. She was the matriarch of the Atlantean Clan of Protectors, what would one day be called Gargoyles." says Kida, "She was a Priestess who protected the Heart of Atlantis from those who would misuse its power and protected our people. Then a dark sorcerer seeking revenge upon his faery father attempted to steal the crystal. The people of Atlantis would have died by crystallization if she hadn't absorbed the fragments of crystal and become stone forever. In her honor, the sorcerers of Atlantis crafted the Praying Gargoyle to protect our protectors"
Suddenly, a Quest appears in front of my face.
Quest: Save Cyanea
Objective: Cyanea, the Priestess of the Atlantean Clan has been trapped in stone for over nine thousand years, nine times the length of the Manhattan Clan. Free her, so she may see the Blue Sky.
Difficulty: Low
Rewards: [Hidden]
Clue: You have all the ingredients.
"Give me a second." I say as a pull out the little bottle filled with the two tiny Atlantean crystals. I unscrew the cap, bring the bottle to my lips and with "bottoms up", I dump the bottle's contents into my mouth. Everyone stares in shock – some worried that crystals will harm me, while others wonder why I'm destroying evidence.
"Woah. That has to be the weirdest taste – seafood mixed with pixie sticks." I comment, while everyone is still looking at me like I'm crazy.
[Gamaliel Approves]
[Crystal Break Skill Acquired]
[Subskill - Transmutation (Crystal) Reversal Acquired]
De-crystallization. The ability to breakdown all crystalized matter and the ability to reverse crystal transmutation. Both can be considered powers of destruction, as crystal is often seen as a symbol of order and creation.
I touch Cyanea's shoulder and turquoise-blue light ripples across her body. It's like the light of a mysterious moon reflected rippling ocean water. The "mysterious magic" does its job.
The stone shell cracks and shatters away to reveal flawless dark olive skin. I also notice there are swirling tattoos on her arms and upper legs that resemble Atlantean tattoos from back home. Her hair is pure white flowing down her back to her waist. Her eyes are now open and when the red glow of her excitement fades, they are revealed to be sky-blue. Her unique features include pointed ears with earrings, two curved horns, and her wings being designed for amphibious actions (moving in water and air) much like the secretive Loch Ness clan. She rises to her feet, wings spread revealing her strength and beauty to the world.
The males of Manhattan and the Xanatos Clans turn their heads as she is also completely nude. Cyanea doesn't appear to care as she just looks around in confusion before speaking to Kida in Ancient Atlantean.
"Oh yeah. This was before the 'Spell of Humility'."
A.D. 10. The Roman Magus, at the bidding of Caesar Augustus, casts the "Spell of Humility" over the entire gargoyle race, causing their garments (and property) to turn to stone with them in the daytime. Up until this point, Gargoyles ended up giving humans a "real show" when they woke up. Rumor has it, the Roman Emperor was worried about his daughter Julia's appreciation for the male Gargoyle form.
"I'm glad to awaken you, Priestess Cyanea" I say to Cyanea when she hugs me, "Please get dressed. We still have a world to save and you're making the mates of the poor males angry."
*DOOM*
E-Shop Unlimited Warehouse
October 5, 2022
11:55 PM
3POV
The Warehouse used to belong to Nightstone Unlimited, but after the company's numerous crimes were exposed, there was a lot of downsizing. This warehouse was once loaded with enough gear, illegal weaponry, and ammunition to supply to small war. It was a re-supply point for her men and herself, which answers where she kept getting laser rifles from. She even considered selling weapons on the street to increase the number of human deaths.
These days, it's owned by a company called E-Shop Unlimited. The warehouse once loaded with weapons and ammo is now loaded with electronics and collectables bought on websites and being shipped to people around the Atlantic coast. A completely legit business that only decreases the human population by creating coach potatoes more interested in their online worlds instead of actual human contact.
There is still a hidden area of the warehouse, which Demona is using as her base. Only accessible from hidden doors on the roof and near a catwalk, this little chamber isn't in the blueprints and wasn't found by the new owners who only care about shipping their product.
The warehouse is completely silent, not because it's empty but because the twenty employees are now dead. Minutes ago, the flesh of the twenty men turned into translucent glowing blue-green crystal streaked with purplish pink. They were alive when their bodies finished transformed, eyes glowing and screaming in distorted tones. These the energy was drained from the crystals causing their bodies to crumble to dust. All that remains of them is crystalline powder and the remains of empty clothing.
Inside the hidden chamber, Demona sits cross-legged before a glowing magical circle. Inside the centre of circle of lines, geometric shapes, and runes is a black sphere the size of a baseball. Above it floats a brightly glowing Atlantean crystal.
"How much longer, Erebus?" asks Demona.
"Soon." comes a voice from the black orb. "With the power of the sacrifices, this city will fall at midnight. Then the energy of the city shall fuel our conquest of this land."
"It's a strange twist of fate. I was moving the Praying Gargoyle to holy grounds, when it was drawn to you. The soul of the sorcerer whose actions led to its creation."
"It was a First Race Priestess that defeated them and sacrificed herself to save the humans. Now I work with a First Race sorceress to destroy humanity."
"Do you care for your kind's fate?"
"I have long since transcended my race. After humanity has fallen, we will both get what we desire. I will become a being of magic and take the rule of Third Race from Oberon. You will use the magic to alter the minds of clans to accept your actions. You will never be alone."
Demona doesn't trust anyone, which is why she has betrayed and been betrayed over and over again. She knows the Ancient Sorcerer is just using her, but she is just using him for her own ends. If this scheme works, all of humanity will be turned into crystal and destroyed, and the magic of a seven point nine billion humans will be used to create her future.
"I sense something familiar. Impossible! Cyanea!"
"Explain!"
"The Priestess is awake and approaching us. She is somehow awake!"
"The barriers will protect us."
"GERONIMO!"
The loud thunderous yell of Ash Grey's baritone voice is the only warning Demona and Erebus get before the giant falls through the roof of the chamber. The humanoid kinetic bomb doesn't stop going through the roof, as he tears through the floor and several crates, before making a crater in the concrete of the warehouse floor. Ash Grey has pierced the many -layered magical barrier like a bullet through a water balloon and magical energies explode outward. The resulting explosion causes part of the warehouse to collapse including the entirety of the hidden room.
With an angry scream, Demona emerges from the burning rubble, holding the black orb of Erebus. She looks around frantically, only to see Ash Grey holding the super-charged Atlantean crystal.
"Looking for this, Demona?"
*DOOM*
Warehouse
1POV
"Give me that!"
"Not a chance."
Demona points the black orb at me and releases a massive blast of purple magic. The blast incinerates the crates and broken plastic electronics around me, scorching the concrete with its aura alone. Demona can only stare in shock at the fact her magical attack failed to kill me. She fired a blast that could have collapsed the Eyrie building and yet I'm completely unharmed.
I'm about to taunt her, when I notice the Atlantean crystal in my hand is emitting pulses of energy, pulsating faster and faster. It finally releases a shockwave that causes nearly everything in the warehouse not bolted to the ground to float. I'm still firm on the ground that's to my tactical telekinesis field and immunity to all magical things.
Demona turns to watch as the Manhattan Clan arrives with Cyanea. She is worried, but she quickly raises her claws and chants a spell in Ancient Atlantean.
Around the warehouse, debris and various objects come together and fuse into huge masses. These masses of plastic, metal, wood, and concrete, then the blobs take vague humanoid shape. I stare at the creations – she made golems out of cheap electronics. The golems attack the Clan and me.
Goliath and Hudson face one very aggressive golem mostly composed of metal and broken stone. It clearly wants to kill Demona's former mate and her former teacher. Its savage movements fueled by her anger.
Broadway and Angela face a fast, agile golem composed of cardboard and packing material. Instead of attempting to kill them, it's trying to capture Demona's daughter and Angela's mate. Its movements are more cunning and calculated.
Brooklyn's family is facing a pair of adaptive golems composed of wires, cables, and electronic devices. They keep the sword-wielders back with fast whips and improvised maces. They even managed to stun Lexington with a bolt of electricity, that forces the gargoyle beasts to guard the injured one with Tachi.
Demona has a malicious smile on her face, until my lightning quick punch sends my attacker flying back with a crater in its body. Demona casts a spell while I'm distracted and encases me a huge chunk of magical ice. I merely flex and the ice shatters around me. I then punch my golem attacker again when it comes for round two, once more sending it flying.
I then notice Cyanea is getting overwhelmed by her opponent, one of the largest heavy golems like the one Goliath and Hudson are facing. She falters and the golem is about to deliver an overhead blow. I fire a quick shot of Doom Vision, which melts a giant hole through the golem's chest. Cyanea's opponent looks funny as while it still has head, arms and legs, the hole in its torso is big enough for Cyanea to fly through. The edges of the ring collapse, dropping what remains of the upper torso onto the bottom, before the whole thing collapses.
Demona then hits me in back of the head with a steel rebar. If I was a normal human, I would have been impaled by the reinforcing steel moving at hypersonic speeds, but instead the steel deforms as it hits me becoming a spray of metal droplets.
"What the Hell are You!?" yells Demona.
"I'm Ash Grey – The Doomsday." I say as I hold up the Atlantean Crystal, "I'm also done Playing."
I surprise her by firing a quick burst of my Doom Vision at her, which moving at lightspeed is impossible for her to dodge or properly react to.
Around the Warehouse, the Clan watch as Demona's golems collapse. They turn to see Demona collapse to the ground with a smoking hole in her chest going all the way to the back.
"Mother!" yells Angela., "How could...?"
"Chill. She's immortal, remember?" I reply, "Killing her just ends the fight quicker."
There is ominous laughter as Demona's body jerks around, before rising to its feet in a very unnatural way. As she stands, the hole quickly closes but leaves behind a purple marking glowing on her chest. I also notice Demona's top, which has managed to survive a ridiculous amount of time has burnt away, leaving her chest bare.
"Mage Erebus." hisses Cyanea
"Correct, Priestess Cyanea." says Demona in the weird double voice of possession. "I survived for thousands of years within the Orb and now this immortal body shall..."
"Shut up! What is with villains and monologuing. Just Die!" I say activating the skill I acquired from killing Dark League's Zatanna -"Soul Crusher!"
Erebus's Black Orb containing the ancient sorcerer's soul explosively shatters. Erebus lets a scream, with the double voice switching to only Erebus' own. His glowing ghost rises from Demona's body. He's an atypical sorcerer – a menacing old man with long white hair, a long white beard, and seriously long and thick white eyebrows. He also has pointed ears and wears long robes with Atlantean symbology.
"Nooooo! After thousands of years, to be denied!"
I slash through the ghost with my [Soul Manipulation] causing the ghost to completely disperse.
"Some people don't know when to die!" I say to the Clan. They are starring at the fact I just killed a ghost mage in less time it takes Broadway to eat breakfast. I glance around the form and take notice of a few things. I then toss the Atlantean crystal around in my hand, throwing it into the air and catching it.
"Now, what should I do with this? I would eat it but I'm not a fan of pixie stick flavored luck of the sea taste."
Demona, who had faked being unconscious, springs into action. With the roar of an angry wild cat, she leaps past everyone and grabs the crystal before it can land back in my hand. She then makes a run towards the wall, so she can climb and make her escape. Just as I predicted.
"Crystal Break."
Demona screams as the Atlantean crystal in her tight grip suddenly cracks and explosively shatters. She drops to the ground, holding her hand which is covered in bleeding cuts and with tiny, embedded shards. She then cries out in both pain and panic as her hand crystalizes. The crystallization slowly spreads, but then accelerates until her entire body is crystalized. The only parts remaining are her Jewelry and belt-secured loincloth. She continues to struggle as living crystal, then she freezes in place and turns to stone.
"You are predictable, Demona." I say, crossing my arms, "That gets rid of the crystal, so what do we do with the world's most genocidal Gargoyle?"
"Cyanea is there anything you can do?" asks Goliath, looking sad and regretful at the Gargoyle who was once his "Angel of the Night".
"No. While I was able to perform miracles using the Heart of Atlantis, I'm unable to undo Crystal Sleep."
Crystal Sleep, also known as crystal transmutation, induced eternal sleep. Most Gargoyles are trapped in stone until they die, which is why only the Priestess of the Atlantean was allowed anywhere near it.
"I'm the only person that can restore her and I won't. She would eventually escape imprisonment and as a monster, I don't put faith in redemption. "I say with wave of my hand. I sense the feelings of Angela and Goliath, but it's not enough to move my non-existent heart, "So, what do we do with her?"
"I doubt the Met would accept her as a replacement for Cyanea." quips Brooklyn, getting an elbow from his wife Katana. Considering she has elbow spurs that must hurt.
"True. While a half-naked Demona would please the Gargoyle fanboys, she is no match for Cyanea's beauty."
Cyanea blushes at my words.
"There is one person you can trust to take care of her." I say to the clan, while looking at the statue, "Send her to Macbeth."
The Manhattan Clan paused at my suggestion, then slowly they agreed.
*DOOM*
October 5, 2022 - The Clan and me defeated Demona. She and some ancient mage soul called Erebus intended to transform the world's population of humans into magical crystals. In the end the soul orb was shattered, and Demon got turned into a statue.
October 6, 2022 – After much debating, they went with my idea. Demona was shipped to Macbeth. I can imagine the Immortal King of Scotland is going to be surprised to get a half-nude petrified Demona. When the old King is finally ready to leave this world, all he needs to do is smash Demona. Until then, I don't care if he keeps her in his basement or turns her into lawn fountain.
October 8, 2022 – I arrived on October 4. It's been 5 days since I arrived in the world of Gargoyles, and I still can't find the [Fragment of the Red Sky]. If this is the build-up to an adventure, I'm worried.
*DOOM*
Outside a Hidden Bunker
New York, NY, USA
October 9, 2022
6:55 p.m. (30 minutes after sunset)
1POV
Today, David Xanatos called Goliath and Me to his office and informed me that the [Fragment of the Red Sky] had been found. It turns out someone within the Illuminati had been financing some of Dr. Sevarius' operations for potential military applications (mutates as super soldiers, basically). Dr. Sevarius had acquired the Fragment from what was believed to be a meteorite crater. Dr. Sevarius was brought in because creatures around the crater showed signs of heavy mutation.
[Flashback Start]
"Despite Dr. Sevarius' death, his accounts are still very active, and my contact was able to give me the location of a possible hidden lab."
"Will you be in trouble for revealing this information?" asks Goliath, but I'm the one that answers.
"It's more than likely that Sevarius has become a liability and the Illuminati just wants us to remove him without risking themselves."
"You are correct." says David, "Experienced this game before?"
"I work for the smartest man in the Universe, if not the multiverse, who has me clean up messes." I reply with a smile, "My world also has a secret society. One that boss often pranks."
"Pranks?"
"If he was in this universe, your boss would end up in the waters around Newfoundland dressed as a Fisherman and explaining to the authorities why he's fishing without a license."
[Flashback End]
It's more than likely Dr. Anton Sevarius is alive, either inside a clone body or he faked his death using a clone double. Either way, he still possesses the Fragment of the Red Sky. The Clan is with me, mostly (I believe) to minimize the loss of life.
His new hiding place is a former Bomb Bunker constructed and owned by members of the Illuminati during the Cold War. It was designed to allow up to one hundred people to survive for five years, but with modifications it can supply a small army of mutates or cage a hundred test subjects. The map we were given is very basic and doesn't show all the modifications made to the place.
As we approach the hidden entrance of the bunker, my enhanced senses detect more than Gargoyles and human police officers.
"We have company!"
What emerges from the shadows makes Goliath's eyes widen in horror. They are creatures from his worst nightmare, a magical nightmare crafted by Puck in his attempt to acquire the Phoenix Gate. In the Future Tense reality, Derek was killed rescuing the last free humans from the Dr. Sevarius' labs. Those labs then produced clones of him with cybernetic augmentations to become the foot soldiers of (fake) Xanatos's army.
While the Gargoyles is shocked, I use my Doom Vision to destroy the heads of the Talon Shock troopers. One advantage against cyborg clones is with robotic movements, they don't have the sense to dodge my beams of death. The headless corpses collapse to the ground. I wonder if Homelander feels like this, so many noisy problems that can be solved with a little laser vision.
The vomiting of some of the clan behind me indicates they may disagree with me.
"You." says a shocked Broadway.
"Monster? Yeah, I know. That isn't an insult to me, it's a fact. Like calling you a Gargoyle." I reply, "Hey Goliath, have you gotten over your flashbacks?"
"Flashbacks?" asks a worried Angela.
"Goliath may have a little PTSD from that Future Tense vision Puck gave him, when he was trying to steal the Phoenix Gate. "I comment as I move towards the entrance, "Since he already knows we are here, there is no need for stealth. I'm going to clear the path."
The Clan doesn't have a chance to protest as I charge forward with a cry of "LEROOOOY JENKINNNNS!"
*DOOM*
Control Room, Hidden Bunker
New York, NY, USA
October 9, 2022
6:55 p.m. (30 minutes after sunset)
1POV
A group hidden in the shadows of the control room watch the monitors. On the screens, Ash Grey is running through the corridors at superhuman speeds. The genetically engineered humanoid weapon of mass destruction is tearing through every obstacle in his path. The cyborg soldiers died with a glare. The thick electrified bars which could easily cook a Gargoyle shattered into fragments. Hidden directional anti-personal explosives (like Claymore mines) detonate with enough power to turn a full-grown Gargoyle into meat sauce, but don't even scratch Ash. Ash doesn't even slow down when he encounters force fields, he just runs through them with no resistance causing the generators to explode. Poison gas, anti-armor bullets, and lasers also prove to be useless, and Ash breaks the devices, so the Gargoyles can eventually follow.
Ash even punches through heavy bulkheads designed to stop invading armies like they were tinfoil.
"What the Hell is He!?"
"This wasn't part of the deal, Doc." says a growling deep voice, "We were hired to kill the Gargoyles, not fight some sort of comic book superhero."
Dr. Sevarius turns on the lights. He's not looking healthy with pale skin, white hair, and red veins on the sides of his face. One of his glaring eyes is also red with a bloody sclera.
His employees are The Ultra-Pack. Once they were a group of mercenaries that ended up becoming actors in a live-action action series called The Pack. They were hired to hunt the Gargoyles and to become stronger they gave up their humanity.
Fox left the group to become the wife of David Xanatos and Dingo returned to his homeland of Australia to become an armored hero with the help of a nanomechanical entity called Matrix. Dingo and Matrix even joined the Redemption Squad -the Gargoyle-universe equivalent of the Suicide Squad.
The brother and sister duo of Jackel and Hyena became lethal cyborgs with energy weapons, blades, inhuman joints, and extendable/detachable limbs. With additional upgrades, more and more of their original bodies have been replaced with cybernetics. At this point, the only part of them that is still organic is part of their brains.
"This guy doesn't hold back like the Gargs." says Jackal, a death-obsessed man, "He's willing to kill."
"He's kind of hot." says Hyena with a laugh, "Wish he was on our side or just mine."
"I thought your lust went down when you lost those organs." says Jackal, a grimace on his synthetic skin face.
Wolf was transformed into a Wolf mutate resembling a classical werewolf. Further genetic augmentations done by Sevarius have made his body larger, more muscular, and more bestial. He now has the full head of a wolf with no remanent of his human identity and his augmented claws can easily pierce steel.
"So, tell us why we shouldn't just abandon you, Doc? I don't feel like ending up a rug."
The last member of the Pack is Coyote. Coyote is a robot, or rather, a succession of robots, designed by David Xanatos and the Scarab Corporation, mainly for the purposes of leading the Pack. Coyote is not leading the group as Xanatos hasn't deployed him against the Clan since Coyote 6.0. The multi-billionaire does value his relationship with the Gargoyles despite his obligations to the Illuminati. After Ash Grey's warning about Space-Spawn and Coyote X, Xanatos intends to make additional modifications and precautions.
"I added a little something to your augmentations. Something only, I can make." says Dr. Sevarius, sounding smug, "It helps the twins nerves keep up with the high-speed cybernetics and allows Wolf to keep his human mind instead of devolving into nothing more than an animal. Without it, you'll have dementia in a month and be gone in two."
The Ultra-Pack all growl in anger as they know the Doctor has leashed them.
"You won't be alone."
Five mutates enter the room. The five are criminals and mercenaries that volunteered to be biologically augmented by Dr. Sevarius, only to learn too late of the "something special" added to their augmentation. They are now forced to work for Dr. Sevarius, knowing his death or failure means being reduced to intelligence of a wild animal.
Bruce White – A modern pirate and smuggler responsible for the deaths of many Coast-Guard and Navy sailors. He lost a leg while smuggling a rare item for a member of the illuminati, so the man introduced him to Sevarius. He's been transformed into Great White Shark mutate resembling an andromorphic shark with muscular arms and legs. He's dressed in black military webbing that holds his gear when in the water.
"I'm starving. Why couldn't this guy have waited until after my snack?"
Benjamin Boudreaux – A Cajun assassin and hunter from New Orleans. He would hunt any animal, even humans, for the right amount of money. One of his targets set a trap for him and his burnt body was found in the swamp. Due to a bit of Luck (Good or Bad, he doesn't know) he was regenerated by Dr. Sevarius as a Saltwater Crocodile Mutate. Despite the crushing jaws and bone-shattering tail, he prefers his blades and guns.
"So, we are going to face a Superman? Fils de pute!"
Dolph Volkov – A Eastern European mercenary. He has actually faced two different Gargoyle clans – the London Clan who interfered with an assassination and the Manhattan Clan who interfered with the second attempt. His employer tried to dispose of him, but Sevarius found a use for him. He's a wolf mutate, but a more refined design than Wolf.
"The payout better be worth it."
Leo Hawke was the name used by hitman. It's not his real name, but it was the name he went by. He eliminated criminals while working for crime lords, but the relationship soured. Eventually, he shot his former boss dead and to hide from the other families he volunteered to become aq mutate. Sevarius got creative and made him a hybrid of human, eagle, and lion, with a little electric eel for flight power and electrical attacks.
"I hope you have an evac plan."
Manfred Tiago Coreno is also another former member of the Mafia, one that moved in with the arrest of Italian-born Tony Dracon and Czech mobster Tomas Brod. His gang thought they would expand with defeat of their rivals but didn't count on the Gargoyles and police allies. He later joined the Quarrymen to get his revenge but was severely injured when his hammer exploded. Instead of giving up and retiring like Dracon eventually did, "Manticore" decided to seek Sevarius. He's now a horrific hybrid of human, lion, scorpion, porcupine, bat, and eel DNA.
"..."
He's a hybrid of human and lion with a scorpion tail, spiny fur, and bat wings, but he's not a conversationist.
BOOM!
The final metal door explodes off its mechanical hinges and Ash Grey enters the heart of the Bunker. He's not damaged in the slightest, only slightly dirty from dust and droplets of molten metal cooling on his clothing and skin.
*DOOM*