Into Dante's Inferno

[Doomguy]

While Jen'lak gathered her things and "mental prepared herself" (her words, not mine), I went back into the lobby to get a few more drinks and say my final "good bye"s and "fuck you"s. The party had started to die down, although not for lack of trying. It seemed like in the couple of minutes I was gone the primes among the prison population had frivolously spent their omnilium, the room even more packed than before with entertainment. At least, I was pretty sure that there wasn't a 72" screen tv there when I first walked in. Nor the ice cream dispenser. Whatever. As I found myself halfway through a glass of real rum and coke the flamboyant Larenzo sat his glitter covered ass next to me.

"Here to say goodbye, or did you change your mind about staying? I always welcome another set of fists in a scrap" I offered, but I knew he wasn't going to take it. He was very explicit the first time and the little hideaway "heaven" had only improved since then. He gave a full laugh and slapped me on the shoulder.

"No no, darling, I'm very much staying. Just here to say good luck to you. Not that you need it" I couldn't help but smile a little, and for once someone could actually see it. Briefly, anyway, as I slammed back the rest of my drink then put my helmet back on when he smiled as well in response. "Feel free to drop by at any time."

"If I ever come back here, it would be too soon" I joked "But thanks for the offer" I shifted my backpack back onto its spot and got off the stool to stand back to full height. One last look around the place to find nothing I wanted to take, and the exit that would lead me out of the dump as the only place I wanted to be "I got an appointment with that white colored bitch that brought me here"

"Leaving so soon?" I heard a familiar voice in my head. In a brief moment a chill ran down my spine as I thought this sudden intrusion was something far more sinister or my mind finally snapped, but the sight of the pink skinned man I met before walked into my sight and I rested my heart a little. It was Al'ter, same as I saw him before sans the metal collar, and beside him was who I presume was Mike, in thick body armor and sported a jump pack and a gas mask across his face (or at least I assumed that's what that was).

"Al'ter!...Mike" The armored man gave only a nod in response while the four armed psychic nodded "Seems you guys found your way here safe and sound"

"Indeed, Doom Marine" Al'ter answered with his mind. 'Doom Marine' was a new one "I apologies that I could not help you to the capacity that I could have" He genuinely looked disappointed, his already wrinkled face furrowed even more and he let out a short sigh.

"Don't sweat it, you helped enough" I consoled him with a light pat on the shoulder and just a hidden weak smile. I could only wonder what he's been through "I'm just glad to finally be able to get out of this shithole" I could feel the mascara covered eyes(lashes) peer at the back of my head "I stand by what I said, Larenzo" I told the drag queen off without even a look back before I refocused on the two in front of me "You can join me, you know."

"Thank you for the offer" Al'ter bowed again "But I still have a duty to withhold in this world" I nodded, a slight bit of respect for the man grew in my mind. Who am I to tell another grown man what to do, and certainly if he chose to stay and help people that was his business. "And you are not quite done yet"

Everything in my body stiffened when I heard that, and my face when from small joys to stone cold and glares at the smaller pink alien. What did he mean by that? My mind jumped back up into that familiar soldier's mindset, left on edge and in search of any threat. What did he mean by that?

And then the rumbles started.

"What was that?" Larenzo asked with a bored expression. This seemed like old hat to him, but I, ol' paranoid Doomguy, was already in the middle of picking apart everything. It felt consistent in strength, a constant mechanically precise rhythm that reminded me of a rain of artillery barrage had had the misfortune of being under in a fight . If they were explosives, then the Empire wanted to kill everyone still under the surface. Kill the secondaries, have the primes respawn all at the same time in a convenient package. Sore losers.

Perhaps the far more damning evidence was when water started to rush in form the front door and got the bottom of everyone's shoes wet.

"Uh, not to alarm anyone" Yelled the mechanical door man from his post "But there there seems to be a bit of a leak outside. Kinda important, I think"

"No shit" I yelled back, although it went unheard as arguments broke out throughout the prisoners as they all simultaneously wondered what they were going to do now and whether or not to panic (with a few colorful words sprinkled in alongside it). I looked to Larenzo, who had taken a serious turn for the glum, likely with the same thoughts churned in his head "Looks like you're leaving anyway. That's not an earthquake out there, the Empires going to turn this place into rubble. Cut its loses and try to take as many as us as possible." He looked pissed, he had to listen to what he already knew but didn't want to admit it. He finally broke down, turned to everyone else and let out a loud whistle to catch their attention.

"Alright, you little dandies, Newkama Land is closing down. We're getting our before those imps sink us. Get your stuff and follow us" Every hardened criminal and con man jumped up and scrambled, snatched whatever weapon they could find if they didn't have one on them already. Everyone else prepared themselves, with varying degrees of success, for the climb back up to the sun. Larenzo stared me down, an unhappy mix between losing his pride and joy and the unfortunate situation that he now had me as the closest thing to a hero. "So you wanted to get out? Well then, lead the way, hon."

I grew a smile, my much more familiar wide, toothy grin that I loved to grin whenever things went my way. I pulled up my shotgun, and stood on a bar stool so I could be seen, and yelled out for everyone to hear.

"Last call, you motherfuckers. You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here!"