DoomPet

Chapter 25

Daisy suddenly stopped enjoying her newly painted armor and growled low and menacing at the robot standing in the doorway asking if they were ready to head out yet.

He looked confused then nodded, "Ahhh yes I almost forgot about what I promised you. I'll be back." Going down into the hull, he came back with Daisy's very own BFG. "The gun will be smaller so one cell should give you about five shots." He held it out.

It mirrored the Slayer's BFG in its silver color and design, but it was longer and slimmer. There were two sharp spikes sticking out of the end by the opening of the barrel.

"You use it," the robot snapped the cell into place, "by running up to a demon, stabbing these two spikes into them," he tapped the razor sharp ends, "and then just pull the trigger." Samuel handed her the gun, "I designed it with your anatomical scans in mind. It should fit to your grip quite well."

Daisy grabbed the gun; one of her blades supported the back while the other rested on the side, ready to move to the trigger. It was perfect and powerful. Nodding happily, she made a pleased noise.

The Slayer grinned, 'That's wonderful Daisy. We will make you a whole arsenal one day I promise.'

That made her grin too.

They headed up to the main deck, but the Slayer took one last look into his workshop. The couch they brought up and snuggled on, the workbench they spend hours at cleaning armor and talking, the scuffs on the floor where Daisy's blades made marks, the bookshelf with the little paper book the marauder made wedged in between the spines labeled "THE DOOMSLAYER'S HIGH RANT 'BOUT SALAD."

Then he turned and headed out, ready to do his job.

As they reached the main deck Vega began speaking, "You'll travel to Nekravol and through the city until you reach the peak of the tower and jump into the stream of argent energy. Then, once you are in Urdak you will stop the Khan Maykr from awakening the Icon." Vega paused for a while, "You will leave me in Urdak since you will need to navigate home. Please be safe."

"Wait," the marauder set his breakfast down, "Will we see you again?"

"Oh I'm sure, eventually. It's a worthy sacrifice... demons aren't allowed to enter Urdak, but I will be able to protect you from the holy seal's powers until you can break it. I heard Urdak is quite pretty this time of year." Vega's voice sounded slightly more pensive and reserved, like he was saying goodbye without actually saying it. He was sad but he gladly accepted his fate. After all, he'd still be Vega no matter where he went! Chuckling, the AI spoke softly to Samuel, and Mr. Marauder, and Daisy, and, of course, the DoomSlayer. "You've all given me life that as an AI I never thought I'd have. I value each and every thing you all do. Samuel, you are my creator and despite your flaws I trust you to take care of my family."

The robot nodded his head and spoke in his deep somber voice, "Thank you Vega. Good luck in Urdak." It was an honor to be trusted with the safety of Vega's found family. He just hoped he'd be able to keep them safe as well as Vega did.

"Daisy, I convinced the Slayer to keep you and gave you the name 'Daisy' to comfort him. You've kept him sane in his battles with demons on earth and the ones within his head. In the coming fight please keep an eye out for him."

The little gargoyle looked up at the ceiling with big innocent eyes and nodded, "Screee!" She'll do whatever it takes to keep the Slayer safe and get him home, even if it meant she didn't make the journey back with him.

"Mr. Marauder, you've helped the Slayer in ways I never could. You're a good demon and I love to listen to your banter. I know Daisy, whom you had kept as messenger in the past, led you to him when he was hurt and you saved him, put down your weapons, and carried him into a portal that you did not know where it would lead. You have courage and I give you my blessing."

The marauder teared up a bit at all the kind words with his name attached to them, "Thank you Vega. I was just doing what I felt I had to do. I'd give anything to take your place in Urdak. I'm gonna miss you Mr. Vega." He smiled up at the ceiling.

Vega chuckled at his new favorite nickname then his tone became serious once more, "Slayer, there's too much to say about you and too little time, but I want you to know that I cherished every second we spent together and I hope that one day we meet again."

The Slayer was stunned. He didn't know what to say. The love he felt in his heart towards the comrades around him made him feel giddy and overwhelmed, 'I'm not very good with words like you but Vega you're my best friend. It's gonna be so quiet in my helmet without you. One day I'm gonna come back and get you out of Urdak. All of us,' he motioned to the motley crew that was assembled around the deck, 'will come get you. We will be fine fighting the Icon but promise me you'll stay safe Vega.'

"Of course, I promise DoomSlayer I will stay safe and wait for you." Then, there was a short pause; they almost thought the AI had disconnected, but he spoke one more time, "Oh and Daisy," his voice sounded almost slightly teasing but definitely excited, "Good luck with <em>'two'</em>. I'm sure they'll be a handful." The noise of Vega disconnecting from the ceiling and putting himself into a small curved metal puck was odd. It made the fortress feel completely empty, as if a giant claw had scraped the warm homey feeling out of it and left a gaping void, despite the four standing together on the main deck.

Samuel reached his hand over to the console that once housed Vega and grabbed the puck, handing it to the Slayer.

The marauder looked over at Daisy, jokingly rolling his eyes, "Vega really had to wish you good luck with me and the Slayer? You're the wild one."

The gargoyle just shrugged and playfully bit at his foot, causing him to swing his legs away from her.

Samuel shook his head also wanting to keep the despair out of the air and continue the joke, "He didn't even use proper grammar either. It should be 'with those two' not just 'with two.' It doesn't make any sense in this context."

Slayer knew Vega wouldn't want him to be sad so he slipped the puck into his pouch on his tool belt. 'Samuel didn't you program Vega? It kinda sounds like your fault.'

"Oooooh he has a point." The marauder gave the Slayer a fist bump and looked over at Samuel.

"I'm ignoring you and opening the portal." He wagged his finger in the air as he turned his back to them and quickly opened the portal.

The marauder hopped off the console and took his shotgun off his belt. "Well, good luck everyone."

'Here we go!' The Slayer gave the fortress one last look. He'd miss it while he was gone, he always did.

The four of them disappeared into the portal.

Leaving the fortress cold and vacant. One by one the heating coils shut down, running only on emergency power to keep the pipes from freezing. Slowly, the pool was drained, and filters cleaned and one by one the lights dimmed.

Until only the red light of the earth lit up the fortress.