Carry On My Wayward Son (Vasty Deep Void Gate Quest)

[Doomguy]

Continued from Into Dante's Inferno

It's hard to think about what I've been through since I had first arrive in the Omniverse, in the grand scheme of things. I had started with a singular purpose: Get out. How that was to happen I hadn't cared, any obstacles in my way I would go through with as much enthusiasm and blatant disregard to collateral damage as normal. What was one Hell compared to the one I tore to piece not hours before then? That's what I saw the Omniverse. Just another inter dimensional realm of madness. Maybe it lacked the fire and brimstone, the walls of flesh, and scream of lost souls, but the egotistical and mad primes given untold power for the amusement of a smiling god made me almost miss the bloodthirsty demons of Hell.

That's what I thought at first. Surprise, when you get to know the people and places better then they stop looking like road blocks and more like people. They didn't want to get in my way, and some even helped. I probably wouldn't have gotten this far without them. Omni was still the prize, but after the months I had been here I couldn't help but think that maybe his intentions weren't as maleficent as I though, in stark contrast to my sky aimed rant I had when I first appeared at the Nexus fountain. Maybe I would have learned that a bit earlier if I took a bit more time to be sociable, but it was a bit late for that.

And perhaps if I did, it would have better prepared me for when I stood in front of the white silhouetted nimrod and learned the truth about everything.

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Choprot's prediction of a few more day's travel wasn't quite on the spot. The captain had decided to make a few stop along away for "business reasons", which I should have to explain why I didn't trust his words on that. Not much I could do about it anyway, since was still bedridden most of the time, and when I got enough fine motor control back that I could trust myself with a med-pack I was largely still restricted to my room. At least it didn't hurt enough that I could get back to my morning routine, and by the time I heard the first cry of "land ho!" I was already up and walking the deck. That might not sound that impressive, but consider than back in my universe what would have been years of physical therapy took two weeks.

Blue Flame Island was a much more impressive sight that I expected. I thought it was going to be some squat hovels tied together on a swamp, but once it came into view it was a crowning city studded into the side of a volcano, and all across the beach a mighty trade port. The more apparent landmark of a white skull seemingly painted into a cliff face gave the right first impression: this was a pirate den, no bones about it.

I turned over to Laronzo who had been staring off from the bow of the ship like I was. Despite his flamboyant nature, I could see right through the act. This had been his first time outside Impel Down since he arrive in the Omniverse. He might have some feeling of lost, but he bounced back pretty well. His is a hardened criminal, I would be slightly worried if he didn't.

"So now that you're free, what are you and your goons going to do?" I asked, and he gave a glance with a big smile.

"Rebuild, of course! Neo Newkama Land will be just a big a hit as the first! Feel free to visit at anytime, darling, but you do have the follow the dress code"

"Not a fucking chance" I said with a lighthearted laugh. Nothing against the man, really. And considering he laughed back, he didn't take it seriously either "I already got a plan, and it's to the hell out of Dodge once I'm done here. See that ship?" I pointed out the massive cruise liner that was anchored at one of the docks. Even from the back end I could immediately tell its royal gaudiness as the Goldwater Resort "I have business with them"

"Well, I hope you get out. I'll be a good story to tell of the day I met the man who escaped Impel Down AND the Omniverse. Keep the wind to your back, Doomguy" He offered his hand, and I took it with a strong shake. It's strange people that I manage to find comradely in. "Now if you excuse me" he made an about face and walked over to the two of his thugs I had met before in the bowels of the prison "Nerra, Hudson, lets get down into the mess hall. We got recruiting to do~"

I just shook my helmeted head and gave a big, lazy smile. Weirdo.

As I walked over to the poop deck (yeah, get your laughs out now, you dolts), where Choprot and his officers supervised the maneuvering of the rustbucket into a pier and the green ork himself was at the helm. Which considering the lack of screams and panic meant that he wasn't as terrible as his manic style of everything he did implied. Before I could get his attention I finally noticed something that perhaps I didn't question at first: Three more ships waving Choprot's flag trailed behind us in formation, each with the same "slap to" aesthetics as the hulker.

"Friends of yours, Choprot?" I asked as I looked him over. Still as mechanical as the last time I saw him. The only difference is that he now had the ring I had stolen for him from the abandoned military base on a necklace"

"Nevah you mind, Doomy. You'ze ain't the only one with fings to do in port" He shrugged me off, and I did the same in response. I wouldn't force the issue unless it some how came to bite me in the ass, and since I would probably be gone in a few days there was a poor chance of that happening. Although there is a difference between unlikely and impossible for a reason.

"Fine. What are you going to do with the passengers once we've landed?"

"Dey're primes, can't force'm to stay if they don't want to. Why?"

"I'll probably need some crew of my own when I've learned how to get to Omni. I don't exactly want to summon more people into the universe if I can avoid it."

"Dere's always some mad gits who'll take da job. Some might stay, just depends on 'ow long ya take. I can point ya the right way if you need a few scurvy dog to work with"

"Right. Thanks, Choprot" The captain only nodded his ahead before he finally took the last final swing into a pier and parked it, anchors thrown overboard and crew jumped off to tie it down. Then the hulking ork stompped down from his spot and started shouting orders.

"Alright, ya rat grots, get the gang plank down. I got some gits to get off me ship and I want them off yesterday!" I just shook my head and walked over to the starboard side where my charge was left to wait for me.

I looked at Jen'lak for a moment, as her sight was centered dead onto the floating Vegas strip. Whatever history she had with the place wasn't my concern, but hopefully she and her sister's meeting wouldn't have any more complications before I could get my answers. They could sort it out on their own time.

"Ready to go?" I at least offered some courtesy, and she managed to pull away from the sight long enough to look me eye to visor. I remember out last conversation and removed my helmet, which netted us both a weak smile. It took her a while before she nodded, despite the lack of any worldly possessions at that point, and she followed me as we both walked onto the pier and into the street proper.

This was the beginning of the end for me, I thought. And I could see the fuzzy memories of the green fields of Earth a little clearer.