16766/Interlude: Mortal Fallacy

Interlude: Mortal Fallacy
Date of Scene:	14 July 2025
Location:	Paris, France
Synopsis:	The Infinite improbability drive shows some scenarios for a Nick-Full Armageddon. And a splitting headache.
Cast of Characters:	Sinister, Lucifer, Phantasm (Drago)

---

Sinister has posed:
Aaaah, Gay Paris...

Scene of the ongoing film project, of romance, of good food, an abundance of cheese, bad taxi drivers, insane road behaviours and a general different style of living.

ANd beneath it, there is a city of the dead and catacombs aplenty.

And access points to the Arc. Sin does have them all over the world you know, because it wouldn't do to be caught without a fox hole to dive down, if necessary.

So, this did not even interfere with filming, it was a 'grab a coffee, this is a day off when you were sightseeing' moment, where the tour was OF the catacombs. We'll just you know, zig when we should've zagged and enter this locked security door when the rest of the tour is going off that way...

Now, this was /nominally/ an arrangement for Nick to meet with the clones and see about developing ANY kind of relationship with them. But unless we like to talk to ourselves a lot, that can probably be given over to hand-wavium or a small scene at another time. Suffice to say, a 'family meeting room' in the lab is set up. With sandwiches and no rationing and tea and potentially a lot of tomato soup and cheese toasty slices. Some things MIGHT be carried in genes after all.

Sin /is/ keeping an eye on that, remotely, via phone and his various technological connections in the cameras that litter the place. Having eyes literally everywhere here, because he can control anything he's made, is a very useful thing. And again, can be handled with handwavium. He's brought Lucifer down to the perpetual motion device within which at its core, hangs the suspended feaher of the Archangel Uriel. Golden, it glitters periodically, then is lost in its containment field and infinitely moving spheres around it. A screen nearby /does/ show the Drago reunion with the other MDs but that... is kind of the focus of Sin's narrowed eyes. "The last time we tried using this machine, we were less than completely focused on what we were doing, to be fair. It got very surreal for a while -- I figured if we want answers as to what Enoch's focus is all about, it might help to have our eyes firmly on it..." he nods to the screen. "Wouldn't you say?"

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer is sitting in the middle of the air, cross legged, casually enjoying a cup of yogurt. Greek yogurt, in fact. In Paris. Because why not? He's watching and listening, and halfway deciding that he understands the bare minimum of all things that are going on. Though when that question comes from Sinister, the Devil looks up from his cup and then flushes a little. Cause he was only half paying attention.

"Was that a rhetorical question? To act more like a guideline?"

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Aww...That tour seemed so interesting.

That said...

The hand-wavium is quite handy. And be it the genes or the fact that the surviving clones were raised on a submarine diet which is consistent of morale-boosting foods to distract people from living in a confined tin can-

Yes. Deconstructed pizza is quite popular. The soup and cheese toasty slices are the first to go. There aren't any hugs exchanged at this moment. MD3 has opted to sit himself cautiously away from the Prime. But. Maybe later. Who knows. But there is a decent conversation at least.

Sinister has posed:
"It was mostly rhetoric. I know this is hardly your cup of tea, but... in many respects it isn't mine, either. This is mystical and mechanical combining... and that is probably why it is not terrifically cooperative at the best of times and has its own level of AI presence to it..." Sin's eyes are probably tracing the action, but when they're solid red it's really hard to tell exactly where he's looking. His fingers drum on the surface of the input pad -- then he taps 'input scenario' and simply takes a deep breathe and stares. "Think hard on what you're trying to find out, Lucifer. It could still go sideways, but this is the nature of the beast that we made, with your sibling."

At least it's not being exceptionally random any more, thanks to recalibration in... other ways.

The soup stockpile is likely going to be refilled quite regularly. Eventually.

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer finishes his yogurt, but doesn't change from sitting in the middle of the air. He's just kooky like that sometimes. Though once Sinister is telling him to think hard on what he's trying to find out, he'll let out a breath and then actually closes his eyes. Focus, Devil. You want to know what Enoch wants with the clones. Simple thought. Elegant. Surely nothing bad can happen with a single thought as that.

There's nothing more that comes from the Devil except a sight that seems like the man is meditating. Focused. For once in his hyperactive lifestyle, anyway.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
As the thought is brought up and focused upon, there is no shimmering effect. There is no 'Doodly Doo Doodly Doo Doodly Doo' sound effect. The visual simply shifts.

Fortunately for Lucifer, he did close his eyes so the presentation is still there.

ish.

They're no longer underground. They're outdoors. Still earth. Not Heaven. But Paris seems a little worse for wear as masses of a uniformed threat makes their way through.

But with each step, there's a flicker and the visual of the threat changes.

Human Killing robots.

Pzzt!

The Brood.

Pzzt!

Human like figures that appear to have been enhanced by something not natural.

The threat's appearance is constantly changing. But they still advance and still cause for the soundtrack of human screams to play amongst the chaos.

And on the other side of the battle field a fury of hawk winged figures fly forth to engage. All bearing the same face. The MD count has gotten considerably larger. And yet in all the chaos, not the younger visage of Nick.

Nick is gone.

Sinister has posed:
Sinister is hardly /accustomed/ to such things as this, but having done a stint or two in the danger room in the past (how else was he to perfect that holotechnology that McCoy played so nicely with?) it is not as jarring as it could be to have 'glitches' in the matrix as it were. At least it's not endless black cats, right?

Opening his eyes just a crack, he concentrates, just enough to remember who he is. Because this is also the Infinite Improbability and that does play a solid number on your head.

It doesn't help him all that much though, as what he finds himself doing, is harvesting body parts, along with several mechanical hoverbot types, in the decimation of Paris once-beautiful streets. It causes him to pause, tilt his head and look up to the skies, to the Choir that fills the heavens with the spilling of blood and defense of ... of what, exactly? Biblical annihilation after all, tends to be rather like the etch-a-sketch end to the universe.

"I know who I am. This is a start. This is..." when is this? Part of him tells him 'it's today, you idiot' and part of him says it's an infinite time into the future, yet also... "...the day after Tomorrow. Oh, damn."

What was he doing? Harvesting. No. No, wait. "Concentrate, Nathaniel."

This may not be the best of ideas, as anything in a five hundred mile radius might end up having one hell of a headache if he concentrates -too- hard.

Lucifer has posed:
Brows furrow. The sight is taken in from all sides. Above and around. Lucifer cannot believe what he's seeing and hopes this is the worst of all probable outcomes. Enoch wants to destroy what Father created. Even he didn't go as far as that. Simply wanting them to learn. To have knowledge. This is something...well beyond.

"Yet I'm the one that gets cast out..."

This is NOT the time for self-pity, Devil. Focus. Which MD had the wings? The good wings, not the mangled ones. He couldn't recall off the top of his head because he didn't really pay that much attention. "This is just one of many...but this might also be THE one. The most desired outcome that Enoch wishes... and what was that about it being the day after tomorrow? That this will be soon?"

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
It's a day. But the day in question is determined by the nature of the shifting combatants. Which is the true one? Eh. So many decisions from so many locations would determine that but in at least three potential scenarios. Paris is so hosed.

As to the who is doing the destroying, the winged combatants seem entirely focused on their enemy save for the occasional swipe of bystander out of the battle field.

To those who live in the area, they might even assign the title of 'defenders' to the winged ones.

At the very least they're a better sight than the other team.

Without further input, the battle rages on. And similar to past encounters, it does appear that luck is on the side of the angels.

Sinister has posed:
<<Day after tomorrow... and tomorrow never comes. We're not in reality, this is the Infinite Improbability.>> Sin's thoughts reach the only other 'real' mind in the vicinity and settle there. We asked questions after all and we will have the answers, in our own fashion.

The mental ice-down the back of the neck is enough to shake Sin out of the fuzziness of being -in- the scenario. Observation mode is therefore engaged, the harvesting of body parts, although very him, is ignored now.

The illusions played into the mind by the machine have him frowning. "So, he doesn't think that there's enough of a hand in their favour, he needs to stack the deck. Or rather, I suspect, that he borrowed off of the actual failure to launch that ... Oh..." Blinking owlishly, Sinister chuckles soft. "...clever boy. Your human origin is definitely showing, Enoch."

Lucifer has posed:
"I hate that this is only one of an infinite number of possibilities... though this might be what Enoch -hopes- to happen. What he's planning. Perhaps the question needs to be tweaked a little..." Lucifer offers this much and then side glances to Nathaniel. "I'm not entirely sure I'm doing this right..."

There's a look back up and around. Trying to see if he can notice something. Anything. A flaw in the plan as it were. Though until he's given more direction, Lucifer will stay put and keep his mind focused as it's been.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
As there's no adjustment to the prompt the battle of the clones versus the revolving who's who of villains continues.

Terminators, Brood, and what one random bystander is calling Demon Infest. Save for Sin's body part shopping ways and Lucifer's eyeballing, that is it for the people who had been around prior to the start of the simulation. No one here but Sinister, Lucifer, and the NPC cast of thousands.

Sinister has posed:
"Only one of Infinite improbability, but a core root rationale, at its heart..." Sinister informs, focusing hard upon the future echo that they're embroiled in. Not getting involved is key to being able to observe better after all, but the machine -does- so love to pull a person in.

"If foresight is gold, Hindsight is twenty twenty. This is the reason he did as he did, what he hoped would be the outcome. Interesting really, that he perceived this. Likely from watching you fucking it up and finding out..." Sinister informs, watching the nearest drones. All the same face, none of them a Drago.

"In infinitate probability, is this... a scenario that is controlled by the Celestial, or Mortal agency? He wanted an army to defend creation as he saw fit, self-replicating or at least replicable by his pawns. And so he did not get in trouble for it, he made sure everyone else, including you, including Azazel, got the blame for that which is forbidden."

Sinister frowns a moment then posits to the machine. "Given the understanding that this was forbidden by the divinity Yahweh, what is the possible outcome that is most likely, of this travesty playing out in full?"

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer scowls a little. Knowing that Azazel - in the end of all things - wouldn't really give a fuck about this. In his mind, Azazel has already made his choice now that he's free and there's no going back to what was because that meant imprisonment. Lucifer isn't convinced he could bring Azazel back to his side to fight again...but everything becomes clearer and clearer as Sinister explains the part to the whole.

Before he can change his question, Sinister is giving more information. So Lucifer continues to watch, trying not to be pulled in. To try and fight against this. Because this is NOT reality. It's a probability. The day after tomorrow.

And tomorrow never comes.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
The battle rages on. Because in the course of this conversation, what? Minutes have ticked by?

As a Terminat-*blip*Brood-*blip*Dem-*blip*Terminator starts to go after a civilian, a winged clone swoops past Lucifer to knock the Term-*blip*

Ok now a bro-

*blip*

Oh for the love of- PICK ONE!

Sinister has posed:
That's hard to do, given the potential for the end of Days.

With a closing of his eyes, Sinister concentrates more or the probable outcome of the drone's creation. The End game of the Endgames, as it were.

"I have a funny feeling that this... doesn't end well overall. I have a funny feeling that this actually spells a very vivid doom, but I doubt Enoch saw that."

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer tilts his head, blinks, because it seems like the very vision is...glitching? That can't be good.

"They never learn. Nothing good comes from trying to overtake everything. To twist it into their vision of domination. Because ultimately it's not domination. It's anihilation." Even Lucifer knew this before. When he rose up. When he questioned. He never wanted to take anything over completely. He just wanted to help. And he did.

Sort of.

"I suppose the machine can't tell us what needs to be done to NOT let this happen..."

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
With the added prompt inputted in, things start to change. The brightest of brights errupt across the view.

No, a bomb wasn't dropped. But the scenery has definitely changed. In counter to Lucifer's throne room, this one is pristine. And standing in front of it's prime seating Metatron is situated. To either side of him two newly made art installations are set against the wall.

Something akin to a butterfly collection, it is rather beautiful when the context is all stripped out. But the noticable Ebony of the one set of wings and the peacockish nature of the other also appears to serve as a warning.

Metatron is not facing the chair but instead has his back to it, eyes cast down the row of winged clone soldiers standing guard as a younger bloodied form is drug in. Wide eyes look to the displays.

Oh so it's a new NEW installation.

Sinister has posed:
There is silence from Sinister. The Light, though it Illuminates everything and makes people /see/... also blinds. The curse of its very nature, of course. But this? This is disturbing, in the extreme.

"Oh dear," a soft response, Sin doesn't even breathe.

"If I recall correctly, the seven must remain salient in the universe as they are Apistolic and help govern the patterns of creation itself, according to Kabballistic tradition at any rate. If two of seven are gone... creation will begin to unravel, or become entirely static. This is about as bad as it could get."

At least that does in fact guarantee Lucifer's more or less continued existance. If you know, existance wants to continue existing.

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer has to truly hold himself back. Remember that this is NOT reality. Those are not REALLY his siblings wings pinned to a wall. Enoch standing there with a pride the likes of which Lucifer could only dream of drinking in. His teeth grit against themselves, and every muscle in his body flexes, contracts, and then holds because - again - he has to not react but he can't help some of the reaction his body makes to this visceral site.

Then there's watching his nephew of many lines of greatness get drug in, bloodied and beaten. So he has to fight harder now. Has to remember this is only a single possibility amongst the infinte within the machine.

His remaining silence is on purpose. If his mouth opens, he may just lose it all right there.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
It is good to hold back. Especially when you're getting what you wanted. The end game of endgames. And what is more End Gamey than body parts being used as decor in an evi- heavenl- ...

...

Well something lair in an endgame scenario. We can figure out the peculiarities later if it's REALLY a sticking point.

Oh perhaps an evil monologue?

Well, right now Metatron is standing quietly, eyes narrowed in consideration of the new guest.

A noted glance is given over to another guard who looks to Metatron before wordlessly leaving. No words spoken but message somehow clear.

As the ones escorting Nick starts to move him forward, a finger is raised, bidding a moment before the door opens again, granting the escorted figures of two who look a lot like the soldiers, Only without wings. While not so mangled, they too have chaperone types as they're brought over to the side, away from the door, away from any form of ceremony. Simply for observation.

Metatron gives a slow nod to the pair before looking back to Nick. "I have been extremely patient with you. Comfortable quarters. Fed. Even allowed visits from those within reason. And yet."

His arms lift, palms upward in a general gesture to the displayed wings to either side of him. "Look at what you made me do."

The hands lower as the Angel sighs, "But all in all I suppose I can forgive you this time. I blame your exposure to Lucifer. Such a bad influence." He casts a slight smile, "He wasn't all that good with rebellions either."

The smile stays fixed. "But I am sure with time we'll knock all of those bad influences out of you."

Sinister has posed:
To Doctor Nathaniel Essex, this is a little different to experience -- he's been through a few scenarios in his existence that have spoken of the potential for monologues. He's had one or two of them himself, but as someone that has been inherantly selfish for most of that time, out of a rather important necessity for the completion of his work, he's never much -cared- about the other side... or the victims. This is a little different.

Knowing where Lucifer is in relation to himself, he reaches his left hand to the archangel and places the warm, smooth palm on his wrist. It's not a hard grip, but it's firm. He's there. No flying solo here -- they are... in a strange way... the Witnesses.

"Curious," not helpful Sin. But for the current moment, he'll swallow his own egotism and stand humble in the shadow of greater infamy than himself. "The song of Samael. We need the song of Samael..." not Lucifer, not the light bringer, something else?

Lucifer has posed:
"What do you want me to do... go and drag him into this room and force him to sing it?" Lucifer hisses this, but it's more because he's sorting through all the emotions right now and so he takes a breath. "Sorry. I don't think it'll work unless Nick is here... and will it actually work..." He stops himself. He forgets what all the songs do each. Plus, his mind is running marathons while he's trying to slow it down to sprints.

"I'm stuck. I want to react so badly but I know there's no sense to it. And I don't know what we need that song for. I also kinda wanna go and just kill Enoch now so this cannot happen." But that just means another will come. Will they be better? Worse? There's no real way to tell. And the vein in his forehead begins to visibly pulsate.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Lucifer and Sinister apparently are not the only ones who are finding Metatron's words disagreeable. Of the pair of unwinged clones that have been brought in, while one seems a bit glazed over in expression, there's a momentary flash of distaste to his features before he blinks, adopting the same expression as the sibling next to them.

Good thing no one is really focused that way, MD3.

Nick's teeth clench as he's lectured. Pale eyes look to the peacocked wings, before he shakes his head, looking to Metatron with a glare. "I beg to differ."

Metatron looks over to one of the ones holding Nick, giving another silent order.

The movement is quick, unseen, but it jostles Nick in a way that doesn't agree with his injuries. With a grunt of pain, Nick's head tilts down.

Metatron shakes his head once more, "You are making this more difficult than it has to be, Michael Nicholas. Your allies have been cast out. There's nothing left to do than just do as you're told."

Nick's shoulders rise and fall with a drawn out sigh. And perhaps for anyone who is looking closely enough, a glimmer of hope.

     "No matter how many times you tell us heel
    I can assure you I will not Kneel
    I won't be your soldier.
    It's over."

Metatron glares. "I MADE YOU. You will CEASE this...TEMPER TANTRUM!"

Sinister has posed:
Sinister's hand clenches gently as the scenario plays out. Being on the outside looking in, there's a small smile as it plays out in defiance. "I think this might have happened..." he murmurs much to himself, gives an odd little shake of the devil's wrist. "Do nothing. Right now, do -nothing-. Witness..." but he nods, because he DOES understand. Lucifer is patient to a degree, but he's a creature of chaotic impulse and action so very much of the time. Machiavellian plotting is a side-gig for him, not the main show.

Red eyes track face to face, picking up nuances as best he can, a thing born of cruelty and scientific dispassion... is the ability to read psychological cues and subtleties; all those things they won't tell you out of well... this: The Defiance.

"I'm so proud of him right now. He won't submit..." he gives another squeeze of Lucifer's wrist. "...Look at that!"

There's a slow, deep breath. "The song of Samael -- Defiance and free will. The one thing that so many have learned from -you- my dear, is a strange truth: you make us realise we have our own agency. Even here. Even now."

Lucifer has posed:
That shake to his wrist is enough to pull Lucifer just so out of his mental anguish. There's a breath. A calming. Then he nods his head. Watch. Wait. Do nothing.

Which is extremely hard to do but also easy to do if he keeps reminding himself this isn't actually happening. They are just watching a what if. A possibility. Why is that so hard to remember? Then, something else begins. Nick shows defiance. It actually makes Lucifer smile and his heart nearly burst with the joy he feels in this moment. Thatta boy, Nick. You tell that dickweed who's boss!

The very fact that Metatron goes a little bonkers after only proves that maybe...just maybe...there's not as much stability as there seems to be. Plus. Another thought. He could have just cut the wings off his siblings. And wings? They can be mended. Or grow back entirely.

Idiot.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Yes! Defiance! Yay Nick! Things are looking up!

Angered, Metatron barges forward. It almost seems like he wants to tackle the musician but there's no lifting of the arms. Just one as indicates towards Nick as he gets closer.

    "We can't be a pa-"

...
    "Pa-"

As Nick is silenced, Metatron smiles slightly. "I think we're quite done here. Don't you think?"

Nick's eyes widen but the glance to his face is obstructed as something unseen hits him from behind. With the force, he pitches forward out of the grip of the ones holding him. With a thunk Nick lands ungracefully upon the floor.

Metatron's smile falters as he turns his head to look to the general direction the hit had to have come from.

What the hell was that?

Nick may be down. But he's not out...cold. But he does sound like he has one as he coughs, hand clenching in a fist. "No..."

From nowhere, darkness appears.

Nick lies there, eyes closed in pain.

Sinister has posed:
In some ways, the pain and the dazedness might be a mercy in the scenario in front of them.
Idiot, yes. But also a manipulative git that's been patient for millenia -- there's only a few that are just as patient in their plotting.

The darkness brings Sin to stare at it, fixedly... a quick reaction, followed by a vigorous cackle that is bordering on hysteria, but not quite. It could be that some times, dramatic timing is just perfect. "And then came the Meggido flame..." he whispers as the scenario tints gold, then shimmers and glitches. It's not QUITE perfect after all, very few things are in this creation, when the hand of the imperfect tries to emmulate Deus ex Machina.

But he has that image in his mind and may well dream of it, of the black shadow surging toward the Metatron...

"I think this might have bled out. I was... concentrating hard..." he informs, between cackles.

Lucifer has posed:
When all goes black, Lucifer looks around for a moment. It doesn't feel over so it can't be over right? So then? What's this? It also poses a lot of questions. Like what happened when Nick tried again to defy Enoch. And what the hell did Enock mean when he said he made Nick. Was that a bleed out from God?

Then there's the cackling from Sinister and the Devil turns his head to look at his beloved laughing like a maniac. Bled out? Like others were now influencing it a bit? Watching? He finally turns to the machine and tilts his head. "What happens if Nick's song succeeds?"

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Well, all black is subjective. As more of an aura of darkness coming from the right back of the room, it hazes away the further out it gets, giving enough light filtered into the room to pick up on the nuances of what is going on. The floor itself seems to still have the most concentration of it. Quite convenient that the stunned Nick is more or less flattened out upon it.

The cloned soldiers who stood in that area are a little less fortunate as when the darkness hits them, they appear swallowed up by the hungry thing. There's no chewing sounds, no burps of delight, they're just...gone.

MD3, who was just out of the reach of the newfound darkness raises his brows and drops the dumb act to grab hold of the other wingless form and tug them to the ground.

But the darkness moves. It grows, and even it reaches the floor, swallowing up Nick last.

The moment Nick vanishes, so does the darkness as it simply ceases to be, leaving an empty room.

PZZZT!

But the darkness moves. It takes out more soldiers before a very visibly upset Nick takes a deep breath.

Silence. In every sense of the word. The darkness is gone. And the soldiers look around to see who is left, MD3 stands up quickly, tugging up the other clone and sets in his dumb expression, glancing around as well.

Metatron straightens himself out, a hand lifting, "Right. Where were we?"

There's a pause before Metatron gives an assessing look towards Nick.

Nick pushes himself up off the floor, an elbow cracking as he stretches it out. "He's gone." Nick comments, glaring at Metatron, a glint of budding wrath twinkling from the now cold blue burning eyes, "And I've got a strong notion on who to blame."

Metatron is ...Speechless. But with a flick of his hand, he doesn't need to say anything as a few of the soldiers break ranks to engage. It just makes it harder to determine what those orders were.

Or perhaps that'll save the audience a few additional glitches.

Sinister has posed:
Sinister gets the laughter under control, biting at an upraised fist, his index finger curled to take the teeth. A little pain to the digit is better than mild hysteria, even if it tickled him somewhat. An exhale occurs around this and he conscienciously reaches for the 'pause' button, tapping it and easing back where he sat.

"Well, that was something. Now then..." he checks his video feeds, looks over the machine and plays a couple of minutes of this scenario back on recording at high speed. Fingers fly to his touch-screen with a look of concentration as programming is set into motion there, the bettle of a frown pinching just below the ruby diamond in his forehead. And then?

Silence. It's not golden, it's filled with a ringing aftermath of that.

"I imagine we might have company soon. I very much doubt that I contained this to just us. But the rest of the occupants here are either in parts, /are/ parts or are robotic at the current time. They won't get bothered. But..."

The Drago multiplex? Who knows.

Lucifer has posed:
"That feels like you're putting it mildly..." Lucifer offers, and then when Sinister advises they may have company soon, there's a brow lift from the Devil. "Good company? Bad? Mixed? What kind of company are we talking about?" Even though it seems like Sinister isn't bothered by it, or worried, that doesn't quite mean much. The man could stay calm in the middle of a hurricane whilst sipping tea and talking about genometric abnormalities like it's a regular Tuesday.

None the less, Lucifer stays alert, looking around the now still room and then waves a hand in the air as if he wants even the paused scene to go away. It will be in his memory for a long while, he doesn't need to see it like a picturesque paining in front of him. And it's still taking everything for him to not just go and be a martyr to kill Enoch where the damned voice stands right now to prevent any of this from happening.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
The screen is paused. And on the screen is- Not sure. Something. Whatever spot Sinister had moved it to.

As for the tomato soup sandwich eaters, well. A general check to the status of them finds Nick napping. IN a time like this? Really Nick. But as for MD3 he's very much awake.

Annnd in the lab.

The exceptionally mangled MD is down.

MD5 is down...

MD4 is down...

Sinister has posed:
Maybe the telepathy is on the fritz. Maybe he didn't project nearly as much as he thought he had done.

Switching off the screen what with Lucifer waving his hand at it in a very Ruby Rod dramatic manner, "Not sure yet. Could be a few. I mean... I tend to make sure my establishment isn't within reach of most places, but we might get a knock on the door." Nathaniel sighs, head tilted as he glances 'off' to the others. Thier guests. The tomato soup brigade. "Nick's asleep. Which probably means he got subtley hit by that in his dreams. Not so sure that's a good thing or not."

Standing up, Sin saves the program, for review probably by himself later if it upsets the devil to look at it, so that he might turn it three dimensional holo and walk through the scenario from various angles.

"We do seem to have the general gist of Metatron's ambition. I am not so sure that it has the capacity to go entirely to plan, now. Too much external potential and too many variables."

Lucifer has posed:
Once the image is gone, something seems to hit Lucifer and he turns back. "No. Wait..."

He turns to the device again and tilts his head. "From the ending point of darkness. Keep going. Answer my question." Because he can't believe that the darkness is the end. And the way it looked right at the end of it too. Like it wasn't engulfed, but something there. With everything else just at the edges.

He turns back to where the image had been playing and they the witnesses to the fray. "What happens next? After. Show me."

Devil WITH a cause, this one.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
The countdown within the lab seems to cease, leaving MD1 to slumber on, unaware of what's gone on elsewhere. As for MD3, he's present somewhere. Probably.

Maybe.

As the program is booted back up and rewound back to the first of the darkness ends.

Once Nick is consumed, it ceases to be. And then there's the blip, flipping to another potential outcome where the upset rocker takes a controlling breath. As he visibly calms, the darkness ceases to be, leaving the survivors to check who is left.

There's Metatron about to try the silencing bit again and yet a pause instead of following though with it.

Nick's eyes still burn a cool blue, the expression, combined with his words quite clear.

Lines were crossed. And he's not about to hold back today.

As the soldiers walk forward prepared to restrain him, the glitches start kicking off.

The end is near. Time for a lot of choices.

Amongst the pzzts of change, various outcomes come with the soldiers. Caught. Drug away. Metatron actually bothering to use his strength directly instead of mind games. Knocked out.

Each successive outcome goes just a bit longer than the one prior to it in terms of timeline. Amongst the dodges, missed hits, the progression of weapons but a lot of them end in defeat.

But the longest path created by taking the right steps at the right times, taking advantage of a dropped weapon to block other attacks, AND knowing to get out of the way of a charging Metatron leads to a fun sight.

Mowed down clones from a misdirected Metatron attack and Nick still standing, eyes narrowed, smile brandished just enough to piss off the angel even more.

It's just enough to encourage yet another self-serving evil speech, or attempt to talk down the musician.

"Look around you. You're STILL outnumbered. Your friends are gone. There IS no help. Only Me. And without me. You're alone. Again."

Now, one would assume when one stops to talk, the other stops to listen but Nick, opts to use that moment to get a bit of space between the two, sword he acquired in the chaos still ready.

The smile, remains.

MD3, in all of the chaos, has managed to remain unscathed, quietly guiding the other unwinged clone out of the path of any stray flying bodies and observing the soldiers and their respective expressions. When Nick's glance reaches his way, MD3 reaches up casually, scratching his ear.

Nick looks over to Metatron. The smile fades, lips are licked as he looks to the side, giving a sigh. "Well when you put it that way..."

Sinister has posed:
Sinister remains quiet in the face of the determined Lucifer -- occasionally it's best to just keep schtumm, as it were. Besides which, it's indicative that his pressure guage has released a bit of steam and there's not about to be a feiry comet of pissed off archangel going to show the /not/ an archangel the error of long-term plotting. That's an upside.

Nodding faintly, it's not Nick that HE is paying attention to in the scenarios. It's the little details, the small things in the background, like MD3, that draw his focus. After all, Nick isn't completely alone.

And frankly, Metatron would have a hard time getting rid of /all/ of the Archangels. Distractions are a thing though.

... and in the core of his eyes, there's a sparkle of gold showing. Odd!

Lucifer has posed:
Each blip. Each failure. Each loss gives Lucifer more fuel to the fire that is to end Enoch. Yet he persists in watching as every glitch happens, as every possibility unfolds. The system working as intended - sort of - to bring them the realm of possibilities.

Then the one comes. The one that plays longer. Nick continues to stand to Metatron. It's almost like it's a montage of failures leading to the ultimate success story. The fighter who keeps getting knocked down over and over, but persists in the face of utter failure. Unlike Sinister, he's focused on Nick, on Enoch and just barely misses MD3's presence in the background. There's a tilt of his head, a narrowing of his gaze.

"How does Enoch even know that Nick is alone. Fear tactic. It's not working. Though it does make me wonder where we are in the scheme of all this. I know we can't go to Heaven but we can't just be sitting like idle ducks either.."

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Metatron pauses, not quite running up arms spread out but lingering enough in his address to hear what Nick has to say. Did it work?

Of course it worked, right? The guy has a few thousand years of practice saying the right things to get his way after all.

Nick takes a deep breath, before he shakes his head. "You got a point. There are a lot of numbers in this room. Granted, they're a better sight than you but- yes that's a lot for me to take on- in"

Pzzt!

The scenery is a vast view of green hills. But amongst the hills there is view of an outcropping that show the entrance to a cave.

Outside the Caves of Kesh, three familiar figures stand near the couple. Mostly tall save for a short blonde, scruffy man removing his tweed cap.

Raphael and Michael stand quietly, frowns set upon their face as they look to the cave entrance.

Leo pulls a set of keys out his pocket, dropping them inside the cap before he holds it out to Lucifer. "Make sure he gets this when he gets back. They're his now."

Sinister has posed:
Sinister sighs softly at the blips in the continuum, as the probabilities and possibilities show the scenarios one after another. There's a tiny frown on his face, just creasing the brows to either side of the ruby diamond. A lightly curled fist rests against his lips in a visible press, his chin lowered, that he looks on beneath the bettle of those brows. The golden glimmer flashes, his attention shifting to Lucifer in the scenario, Leo's departure to the world on the other side --

Well, that might explain why THIS version of Nick is punching above his weight class, but MD3?

The gaze narrows. He still says nothing, fixing on the Metatron. Hubris and superiority. Oh, it's so familiar.

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer takes a slow breath. At least now he knows that Raphael and Michael are alive. Though a part of him could find glee in Michael being taken down a notch or few...not like that. That's the worst.

He would know.

Then there's another breath as Leo hands off a hat and keys. His head tilts just so as he listens. Leo has hope and that's a plus. It's just good to know they're all alive and relatively healthy. That's a relief to him.

"Alright. How does Nick fare further in the current scenario against Enoch with MD3 close by?"

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
The device does what it can to balance the demands of the two differing requests. Well, different, and yet related. And with the constantly flipping back and forth between channels to keep track of two shows playing at the same time. Some details MIGHT get dropped.

Cap and keys handed off, Leo turns as Raphael walks over to murmur something to the Irishman. There's a soft chuckle before the man looks back to the cave. "Slan agat."

He turns, walking towards the cave entrance.

PHZZT

At some point while being on the other channel, there must have been some banter exchanged. They won't ever know the lead in to what occurred most likely. But it becomes apparent that Nick has realized direct combat might not the best thing to try at this moment.

And so, with arms spread out, a palm facing upward with one hand while the other holds on to his sword, he starts going into a modified version of The Law by Reach.

Tsk. So lazy. But then again, he had other things on his mind than songwriting the past few days.

Well, the rhythm is there at least. But the lyrics have been twisted in places and replaced in others.

    'Do not mistake my inaction for some notable fear.
    There just was no need to do it myself when my friends were near.

    But now you've gone and forced my hands
    So now you'll find I won't heed your demands.

    The gates are open there's no other course,
    This is the end. No final remorse.

    Of how you rule we all just saw
    You're now fired I am NOW the law'

As Nick belts out the tune, he treats the room as his stage, strutting about, just out of the reach of anyone the irritated Metatron starts sending after him. And in an odd turn of events, the inner sense of rhythm of the clones start to sway-

And then Metatron tackles him, ending the song.

...Spoilsport.

PHZZT!

Nick spins out of the way of the bullish Angel. Ole! Just in time for the chorus to hit.

    'I am the law, I am the law, I am the law
    I am the law, I am the law, I am the law'

Off to the back of the room, a similar voice pops up as MD3 joins in with a modified version

    'He is the law, He is the law, He is the law
    He is the law, He is the law, He is the law-'
MD3 bobs, acting like he's grooving with the music as well, doing a 'join in' gesture to the soldiers looking his way.

There's a moment before several of them start to join in on the new chorus.

Hmm. Maybe using an established song for a base WAS on purpose.

Sinister has posed:
"I think that's an interesting answer," Sinister murmurs, head tilting just a slight bit as if listening to a whisper only he can hear. His gaze shifts through the wall, fixing on a shape that only he can see, a mind that he knows is there, but is hard to read. But this is him. Not just anyone. And certainly not an elevated angel. He looks back at the scenario played out, the contagion imbedded in the music, in the power of the Spell, visible at least in the offings of it. He gives a rare smirk at the fact that it's becoming a bit of a dance routine.

Everyone needs a back up dancer troupe, right? If they're a professhnul singer anyway...

"You know, I wonder if that's why..." he murmurs as something of a nonsequitur, but does elaborate some. "If one knows the future..." he glances at the device, its golden glint showing when the glow of the feather occasionally shines through. "...it's nice to throw chaos to what would've otherwise been a rather ordered take-over of Armageddon. I mean... if a son of Man with the dragons tongue is also a child of Dreams, sometimes, you can create just the perfect storm where a song in a dream changes all of reality."

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer's eyes narrow a bit before he turns away from the scene and the ongoing changing of I am the Law by Nick and entorage so he can look upon the device. Something about it. It's taking in the input, giving the output, and then glitching to something else. "Is there anything else we need to know of this scenario?" He asks the device, which may cause it to skirtz out again. But then, maybe not. Lucifer is simply wanting all the paintings he can get. It's also helping ebb his desire to go topple the Gates and beat Enoch to a bloody pulp.

As if he could.

"We do not know the future now any more than we did an hour ago. And I suspect each thing we're seeing here is now not going to come to pass. Reality won't let it because we've seen it. Course, this also throws a whole wrench into the idea that we have free will and that God knows all..." Which puts Lucifer's brain into a sort of fritz as well. He's now now sure what to believe.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Perhaps. But by seeing it, maybe all the other possible failures won't happen either. Because of that one outcome.

    "I understand this is where you roost
    but I've got grace, soul, and a power boost

    You've viewed weakness when seeing untapped force
    Just pushed too far, now you've set the course.

    I am the law, I am the law, I am the law
    I am the law, I am the law, I am the law"

As the other voices start to chime in, Metatron glares. "ENOUGH! STOP THIS." With a quick swipe he knocks down one of the clones. But it appears to have the opposite of the intended effect. Several of the quieter clones frown before they start joining in, making the next round of the chorus louder.

    "He is the law, He is the law, He is the law
    He is the law, He is the law, He is the law-"

With the joined voices, there's a slight crackle in the environment.

"YOU WILL CEASE THI-"

    "Of how you rule we all just saw,
    You're now fired I am NOW the law.

    You won't speak til I want you to,
    I've grown so bored
    Your plans are shattered,
    it's the end of your world.

    I am the law, I am the law, I am the law
    I am the law, I am the law, I am the law"

    "He is the law, He is the law, He is the law
    He is the law, He is the law, He is the law-"

Or maybe the general message is that not all things are solved by violence. Sometimes you just need a catchy song number and a bunch of grace infused clones to back up your claims.

Regardless of the reason, there's an almost light show as a light storm erupts from the singing clones, converging upon the one they're declaring to be the law. A glorious sight. In theory. If Nick wasn't knocked to the floor with the force of the blast, giving a shout of agony. His sword clatters away from him, leaving him effectively unarmed

Metatron, now unable to speak out loud says more than enough with his growing sneer. His own weapon in hand as he strides forward with purpose.

Sinister has posed:
"Chaos theorum has a few very peculiar little side-rules for its slide-rules. One is the observer effect -- but this is ... oh, it's quantum but there's also entanglement, here. Mainly because of the connections here and the... well, nevermind me, I'm doing sciencey geek-speak again." Sinister muses, looking faintly apologetic to the devil.

He quiets at the panning out of the song, the power that it has, but also its limits. He frowns, it gradually gets deeper below the ruby diamond.

"This is infinite improbability, sifting the most likely of outcomes. The future isn't fixed. But there are likely effects. That's the way the world works, cause and effect. That's how -magic- works. Cause and effect. That's a universal rule. What this is telling us is -why-. And -how-. And potentially other strings along the theorum line."

He looks at Lucifer, then back at the scenario. "I might just have forgiven Uriel slightly."

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer scowls a little at the scene again before the light engulfs and Enoch is armed and charging once more. Only without voice. This has Lucifer curious. "Did Enoch just lose his position as the Voice in that moment? So now, on the verge of losing everything, he tries to kill the one who's taking it all from him..." Tsk tsk, Voice. You did so little anyway...

"I might have forgiven most of the choir...at least a little. Some are still undeserving of a full pardon..." He crosses his arms then before shifting just after and going through the motions to light two cigarettes, handing one to Nathaniel. "So... do we have a better idea of what to do now?"

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Whelp. So much for that last theory.

On the floor, Nick rolls forwards, balled up fists pressing against the floor as the source of his pain starts to become noticeable. A telltale angular bulge starts to press against the fabric covering his back. Grimacing, the song shifts, being rhythmic, but less centered on the song of Law before.

    "I know I was told not to
    but the world is almost through,
    Because of you everything looks fucked,
    we need to bring here some good luck"

The expression upon Metatron speaks volumes, blade lifted, it becomes apparent that there is no plan to simply knock Nick out this time. Patience is gone and a quiet, seething anger dictates the former strategist's actions now. But the actions are slowed as several of the clones converge, blocking the path to the runt that dared to deny what is to be.

    "So lets bring in others to see how to mend,
    I'm not alone their powers they will lend.
    Across time and the many realm
    Select the best to help at the helm"

Whatever was done to garner their loyalty to Metatron seems to still be mildly in effect as hands are not raised against the voiceless voice. But the attempts to block passage are still made which, while slowing down, is not too effective when they aren't willing to attack him. AND Metatron is displaying his willingness to move them out of the way. No, on purpose killing blows, but just enough to send any and all that interfere reeling. There's another task at hand.

There's the sound of fabric ripping from Nick's back, causing for another wince as he struggles through the next line.

    "You may say I'm one but that is plenty
     Of all the possibilities, I am....

Nick's words are cut off as Metatron breaks through the last line of defense, striking with a definitive swing.

The reward is the sound and visual of Nick's head landing upon the floor, rolling away from the body.





PHHZZT!

Metatron breaks through the last line but prior to his reaching Nick, MD3 jumps on Metatron's body, arms wrapping around the angel's neck as he flops about with the larger creature's quick spins.

    "You may say I'm one but that is plenty
     Of all the possibilities, I am.... Many.

To the back of the room. There's a minor disturbance as two swirling dark points appear.

MD3 all of a few seconds delay before the clone is removed and thrown against a nearby wall. MD3 stills.

Irritation taken care of, Metatron's angry expression becomes almost- blissful as he silently walks over towards Nick. Sword lifting up, he starts to-

    "HEY FUCKFACE!"

The sword halts in its downwards movement as Metatron turns his head

    "A guardian's request,
    Protect your kin,
    Violence reject,
    Strike of the Seraphim!"

Metatron stills, looking to the pair of newcomers. One wearing a black and red cloak that covers his features. But the key identifying feature is the object worn about the neck. The eye of Agamotto. An arm is pointed downwards, two fingers extended from the hand positioned from the end of a slashing motion that had been done with the prior chant.

The other. Well. Looks like Nick. No costume. Just, sensible clothes. Several protective medallions, and a bookbag. That one is likely the one with the foul mouth.

There are no parting words. Save for the exhallation of air and the sound of the two halves of angel falling to the floor. There's not much said from former voice of God.

Sinister has posed:
And that, that is where Sinister hits the pause button for real, after making sure that the whole thing is recorded, along with the other glitches, to analyse and review later from all angles. He'll probably do that on his own, when he's not going to bore the living crap out of the devil.

"I think so. Now, the extrapolation has to come of how we got from here, to there, as it will give a better idea of /where/ Metatron's influence is being peddled in the world we live in, to throw the metaphorical spanner in his loop. Not that the end result was unworthy, it wasn't.. but it was -horrendously- arrogant of him. Just goes to show, you can take the human and make him an angel, but you cannot take the angel and refute his humanity. I think, in actual fact, with a bit of rhyme, reason and ritual... you my dear, can be /quite/ the blood hound. That kind of splash of Deadly Sin is probably going to leave traces all over the place."

Exhaling, Sin slows the machine down to normality and flicks the screen to the vats. "They're braindead. I don't know now, if I shouldn't just hold them for parts. I might not tell Nicholas about that though."

Lucifer has posed:
With the pause button officially pressed, Lucifer turns his attention to Sinister as the man speaks. There's a hint of a grin on the Devil's face and a deep breath taken. "No. You cannot. And I'm going to bet that the humanity that Metatron is showing will ultimately be his downfall at some point. Arrogance is just one face. I'm sure there are plenty of the Seven that is being used to serve his purpose. How annoying." And yet, in some way, beautiful in it's rendition. It could even be seen as a powerful positive thing if it wasn't being used for something utterly nefarious.

At the last bit, Lucifer simply tilts his head and then shrugs his shoulders. "I think you should do with them what can be done for the sake of science. You're best at that after all. But maybe being honest with Nick would be a good idea. Especially if, braindead as they are, that's the only purpose they can serve. I'm sure he'll understand."

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
With the video paused and a general understanding of a possible outcome leading to Nick having something growing out of his back, some powerful cameo performances, and Metatron ending up with a splitting headache. No one really wants to watch the cleanup. Just the disaster that leads to it.

And speaking of disasters, that's what it appears with the clones that had been in the tubes. Not a soul spared, leaving the ones left to just the missing MD2 and the pre-

Where is MD3?

Well, of the surviving Nicks only the prime appears to be where they should be. Unconscious and lying next to a serving table holding soup and sandwich.

Perhaps the bad news can wait.