INT. THE ROSE
The PATRIARCH shakes his head as THE STRANGER looks at him.
THE STRANGER
Something a matter?
PATRIARCH
I met a lot of people who came here around that time...a lot of roses over there are laid out for what transpired...
THE STRANGER
I am sorry....
PATRIARCH
It is hard to know the true story behind such events, but I suppose things could not have been changed...Resume your story please, I didn't mean to get upset.
THE STRANGER
...VALLARIA was a dead end, THE DESERTER wasn't there, and we had nowhere to look, and nowhere to go. So we had to go backwards, back to CTHULU...of course there were objections...THE GAMBLER didn't want to go, neither did THE RENEGADE, and THE ROGUE seemed...displaced, so of course, me and THE LONER went back, and the other three headed off, towards THE HELLZONE, to the land inhabited by THE FOUR HORSEMEN...our journeys separated, and me and THE LONER were once again within the presence, of THE DARK ONE...
INT. CTHULU'S LAIR
THE STRANGER and THE LONER storm into the CAVERN as THE ACTOR tries to stop them from advancing so feverishly, CTHULHU only yawning as the HOST'S BODY stands up.
THE STRANGER
The DESERTER wasn't in VALLARIA!
CTHULHU
Yes, I knew this when he left.
THE LONER
Where has he gone!?
CTHULHU
Seems he headed west, towards EDEN...
THE LONER
Why would he go there?
CTHULHU
My guess, you small fragile sacks of meat, is that he was heading towards the machine city of MECHA.
THE LONER
Seems like?
CTHULHU
Well, he seems to have got caught by a band of ANGELS...
THE STRANGER
What?!
CTHULHU
It seems a patrol led by the archangel RAPHAEL, picked him up a few days ago after the ruse by LEVIATHAN, they seem to think he has answers.
THE STRANGER
What will they do with him?
THE LONER
like you even have to ask...
CTHULHU
This one makes an obvious point...
THE STRANGER
What will they do to him?
CTHULHU
Get what they can get out of him, then dispose of him, ritually of course, the ANGELS are still keen on preservation...though I seem to think him being a fallen angel turned demon might expedite such proceedings.
THE STRANGER
How many days do we have?
CTHULHU
Less than three, if you manage to get there in time...
THE STRANGER turns and heads off as THE LONER turns to follow CTHULHU screeching, THE LONER stopping as he turns to face, CTHULHU'S HOST tossing THE LONER a strange amulet.
CTHULHU
I don't like my sleep being interrupted with your feeble presence. If you need to speak to me, say my name with that amulet in hand. I will answer your calls...
THE LONER
Thank you...
CTHULHU
Do not thank me, I am not your friend...
THE LONER
Still...thank you...
THE LONER hurries off as CTHULHU'S HOST falls over, CTHULHU yawning again.
THE STRANGER
(O.S.)
So off we went to EDEN, to the residing place of the ARMIES of HEAVEN...to find the demon known as THE DESERTER. Of course...other things were brewing all around us...
INT. THE HORSEMEN'S DEN
DEATH sits upon a throne composed of nothing but strange skulls as WAR bows before him, DEATH nodding as WAR turns and extends his hand.
WAR
My brother in battle, my master...I present OUR master...LORD LUCIFER...
SATAN barges inside the DEN as DEATH breathes heavily, SATAN surrounded by THREE HIGH LEVEL DEMONS, one bumping WAR who just stares him down.
DEATH
Welcome, LUCIFER, it has been a while...
LUCIFER
Do not play the ill minded forgetful old man DEATH! I know you interfered with my business in VALLARIA, sending your little brother to quell LEVIATHAN...
DEATH
Your accusations are unjust, and I resent them, SATAN...Do not speak to me as if you are above me, boy.
LUCIFER
I control you, I am your master, and I will speak to you however I want!
DEATH
You are young, angel...a whiny toddler, who is merely throwing a tantrum.
LUCIFER
Speak your words carefully, DEATH, I still rule you...
DEATH
While this apocalypse is on hold, you are nothing more than a guest...
LUCIFER
And once it starts back up, and trust me DEATH, those days are counting down rather quickly, you will complete what I bound you to me to do!
DEATH
Until those days come, you are nothing...
LUCIFER screams and unsheathes his LARGE ANGELIC SWORD, WAR stepping forward only for the THREE DEMONS to block his path, LUCIFER putting the blade to DEATH'S THROAT, who only looks at it feebly.
LUCIFER
Remember what you are to me, and remember what I can do...
DEATH
You cannot kill me, it is useless...I am eternal.
LUCIFER
You may be, but as a spirit you will wander for a thousand years, and your precise balance you seek to control will be gone, and when I reel your soul back, after I conquer this world, I will send you back....and your essence, your mere existence, will be nothing but a far off memory...
DEATH sneers at him as LUCIFER sneers back before smirking, LUCIFER pulling the blade away as he sheathes it and turns to head out, patting WAR on the head as he waves two fingers at them.
LUCIFER
Consider this a warning...next time, I will take care of your family next, and then I will handle you, DEATH.
DEATH and WAR watch as LUCIFER and the THREE HIGH DEMONS exit.
WAR
What now?
DEATH
Let's hope FAMINE and PESTILENCE find out guests before anyone else does...
INT. THE ARK
EDEN, a beautiful lush portion of land enriched by the presence of the angels and armies of heavens stretches a third way across the world, and its majestic capital, THE ARK, lay within the middle of EDEN.
INT. THE EXAMINATION CHAMBER
The ARCHANGEL GABRIEL storms into the CHAMBER as a few angels wait about, TWO BEAUTIFUL and MAJESTIC looking ANGELS standing up front as someone was smoking a cigarette in a room alone.
GABRIEL
I did not sanction an examination and this is completely within my purview!
The ARCHANGEL RAPHAEL, and heaven's armies grand chancellor and general the ARCHANGEL MICHAEL, don't even flinch or turn their heads to acknowledge their siblings arrival.
GABRIEL
Why have I not received an answer!
MICHAEL
Things went rather quickly, we did not have time to make such an inquisition, but we will reprimand our mistakes and file all necessary paperwork and will take any grievances you lobby against us.
GABRIEL
And you shall receive them shortly, what hath you brought this demon for?
RAPHAEL
He was heading towards the machine city of MECHA, a place forbidden to DEMON and human kind alike. We have brought him here, because he was once a proud angel, then a fallen angel, and now...a demon with no name.
MICHAEL
We must know why he has come here and why he feels the need to enter the forbidden city. We will be thorough and just little brothers.
RAPHAEL and MICHAEL enter into the CHAMBER as THE DESERTER looks at them and smiles, GABRIEL is the last to enter as he shuts the other ANGELS out.
THE DESERTER sets the cigarette down as RAPHAEL comes over and smacks him across the face, THE DESERTER sailing backwards and hits the wall and cracks it, GABRIEL screaming in shock as he grabs RAPHAEL and throws him away from THE DESERTER who coughs out a glob of demonic green blood, MICHAEL folding his arms.
MICHAEL
Why have you come to EDEN, and why do you plan to enter into the FORBIDDEN CITY?
THE DESERTER
Hello to you too.
MICHAEL
You will answer me.
THE DESERTER
I don't have to answer shit.
RAPHAEL goes to strike again but GABRIEL pushes him again, MICHAEL holding a hand out towards GABRIEL who disappears, RAPHAEL smirking as GABRIEL looks about to see that was transported outside the room, GABRIEL running to the door only to find it sealed off from him being able to get inside, GABRIEL screaming as RAPHAEL strikes THE DESERTER a few more times, knocking him about the room as MICHAEL just sternly watches as RAPHAEL slings some demonic blood off of his knuckles.
MICHAEL
Do you remember your name?
THE DESERTER
Obviously not...or else I'd be taking these hits a lot better.
MICHAEL
Why have you come...
THE DESERTER
Yeah yeah yeah, I heard you the first time...
MICHAEL
Then answer me.
THE DESERTER
You haven't noticed what's been going on lately? All these violent outbreaks, LEVIATHAN'S appearance, you haven't contributed to anything?
MICHAEL
We know that the DESCENT 3 are going about causing a scene, eventually they will come to us, and we will set them on the correct path before they are to be condemned to their eternal fate.
THE DESERTER
You guys are really cold, you know that?
RAPHAEL
You still haven't answered...!
RAPHAEL punches THE DESERTER into the wall again, GABRIEL watching on in horror as THE DESERTER spits out more blood.
THE DESERTER
Mm, damn...that hurt...
MICHAEL
The FORBIDDEN CITY...
THE DESERTER
I was going for their help...I don't want this apocalypse, I like living, I like living amongst people, I fell from heaven because it bored me, and I deserted hell because it wasn't fun anymore. So I figure...hell, I get some help, maybe I can take on both of you at the same time...
MICHAEL
How foolish of you.
THE DESERTER
Perhaps, but at least someone is trying to stand up against you all...
RAPHAEL
Shall I kill him, brother?
MICHAEL
No, we will give him a demon's death, we will redeem his soul to be what it was before the fall.
RAPHAEL
Hmph.
MICHAEL heads off as RAPHAEL looks at THE DESERTER.
RAPHAEL
If I did not love my brother so, I would finish you now...old brother...
THE DESERTER
Do you...remember who I was?
RAPHAEL
It does not matter now, you will die in a few days time.
THE DESERTER
Fantastic.
RAPHAEL leaves and GABRIEL busts into the room finally, GABRIEL coming over to him as THE DESERTER spits out more blood and grabs another cigarette.
GABRIEL
I will heal your injuries...
THE DESERTER
Why bother...
GABRIEL
My brothers are too cruel for their own good...to be devoted to this terrible cause that will befall everything.
THE DESERTER
And you sound like me or some of the other demons I know...losing faith in your father?
GABRIEL
Never, but I understand that there are better ways to handle things in this world created from my fathers dreams.
THE DESERTER
Haha, still a boy scout..but a good boy scout.
GABRIEL touches him but THE DESERTER pulls away.
THE DESERTER
I'm sorry, but I don't need your help, don't think of me as ungrateful, but the mere thought of you helping me...sickens me.
GABRIEL
I am sorry...
THE DESERTER
Don't be, it can't be helped...old habits die hard.
GABRIEL
It is a shame...
THE DESERTER
Perhaps it is. Are they really going to kill me?
GABRIEL
Yes...
THE DESERTER
Do you think they will succeed?
GABRIEL
I have no reasons to doubt why they wouldn't...why?
THE DESERTER
Oh I don't know...
THE DESERTER lights the cigarette.
THE DESERTER
Let's just say I have demon intuition.
THE DESERTER laughs as GABRIEL looks at him suspiciously.
End of Part 19