[Scene: Plan B.....]
The television mounted against the far wall flickered with static before settling on the familiar crimson-and-black graphics of Hell 666.
A banner stretched across the bottom of the screen:
BREAKING NEWS — HEAVEN APPROACHING HELL?
Katie Killjoy sat behind the news desk, her expression unusually tense. Beside her, Tom Trench shuffled through several sheets of paper.
Behind them, footage played from what appeared to be a sinner's phone.
The video was shaky.
The camera pointed toward the sky from the top of some dilapidated rooftop in Pentagram City.
At first, there was nothing unusual.
Then the camera tilted upward.
A massive, luminous sphere hung in the distance.
It was Heaven.
Its golden clouds, radiant architecture, and impossible brightness were clearly visible even from Hell.
And it was getting closer. Much closer.
"Once again, we must stress that this is not a weather phenomenon," she announced. "The apparent celestial body visible above the Pentagram is believed to be some portion of the heavenly realm itself."
Tom swallowed. "And according to our correspondents, its position has been changing."
The footage suddenly zoomed in.
Heaven seemed to grow larger in the sky.
A few seconds later, the camera operator screamed.
"What the fuck?!"
The recording ended.
The screen returned to Katie and Tom.
Katie leaned toward the camera.
"Experts are currently referring to the phenomenon as a possible incursion."
Moxxie sat forward. "An incursion?"
"We don't know exactly what that means yet, but one thing is certain. Whatever is happening between Heaven and Hell—" The broadcast suddenly cut to static.
Blitzø stared at the television. Nobody spoke.
Moxxie broke the silence. "I've never seen anything like it."
Millie scratched her head. "Okay, but what the heck is an incursion?"
Blitzø shrugged. "Beats me."
He turned around toward the others.
"But apparently we've got a big shiny problem heading straight for us."
Loona remained seated at the edge of the room, staring blankly at the television.
Blitzø grabbed the remote and switched the screen off. "Okay, gang. New plan."
He walked toward the center of the room.
"We figure out what the hell is going on, find Doctor Dome—"
"Doom," Moxxie corrected.
"Dome." Blitz said.
"Doom."
"Dome." Blitz said.
"Sir, his name is Doctor Doom." Mox said.
Blitzø waved him off. "Whatever, Mox...''
He reached behind his back and pulled out a folded piece of paper.
With an unnecessarily dramatic flourish, he slapped it onto the table.
Everyone looked down. It was a crude drawing.
Millie blinked. "Is that supposed to be me?"
"Yes." Blitz said.
"Why do I have four arms?" Millie said.
"Artistic interpretation." Blitz smiled.
Moxxie pointed toward his own drawing. "And why do I have a mustache?"
"Because you're classy." Blitz said.
"I don't have a mustache!" Mox spoke.
"You do now!" Blitz said.
Loona glanced at the paper. "Why does Charlie look fucking skinny?"
Blitzø frowned. "Because I ran out of time!"
Loona sighed.
Blitzø planted both hands on the table. "Anyway!"
His expression became serious. "We're going to plan a counterattack..."
Moxxie raised an eyebrow. "Against Doctor Doom?"
"Yes." Blitz said.
"The guy who apparently stole Lucifer and attacked Heaven?"
"Yep." Blitz said.
"The guy who may now possess enough power to change reality?"
Blitzø nodded. "That one."
Moxxie stared at him. "Sir, that's insane...''
Blitzø grinned. "Exactly. Which means it's perfect for us!"
Millie smiled brightly. "Sounds fun!"
Moxxie looked at his wife. "Why does that make you happy?
"Because we haven't had a good impossible mission in a while!''
Blitzø pointed at her. "See? Millie gets it."
He tapped the terrible drawing of Doctor Doom. "News says Doom was last seen heading toward Heaven."
His grin faded. "So that's where we're going."
Loona finally looked up. "How?"
Blitzø paused. "Ah."
He looked at Millie.
Millie shook her head.
Moxxie shrugged.
Loona simply shrugged harder.
Blitzø looked around the room. "Anyone?"
Blitzø slowly leaned against the table. "Okay, that's a problem."
Moxxie's eyes suddenly widened. "Wait."
Everyone turned toward him. "I might know someone."
Blitzø pointed at him. "Talk."
Moxxie straightened. "An inventor. A scientist, technically. His name is Baxter."
Loona's ears perked slightly. "Baxter?"
"Yes," Moxxie said. "He's eccentric, but extremely intelligent. If anyone can figure out what this anomaly is, or determine how we could reach Heaven—"
Blitzø's eyes lit up. "Baxter."
He grabbed the sketch off the table. "Baxter!"
He crumpled it accidentally. "BAXTER!"
"Yes, sir. We heard you." Mox frowned.
Blitzø threw the ruined drawing into the trash. "Then we shouldn't waste any more time."
He started toward the door. "Loona!"
"What?" Loona said.
"Where's Charlie?" Blitz said.
Loona glanced toward the window. "Outside."
Blitzø stopped. "Outside?"
"Waiting at the van." Loona said.
His expression softened slightly. "And?"
Loona hesitated. "She's still going through...with her girlfriend's death."
The room fell silent.
For a moment, nobody knew what to say.
Blitzø exhaled slowly. "Yeah."
He looked toward the door. "Then we better not keep her waiting."
Moxxie gathered several papers from the table. "I'll contact Baxter."
Millie grabbed her weapons. "I'll get the gear."
Loona stood and stretched. "And I'll drive."
Blitzø pointed at her. "See? That's teamwork."
Loona rolled her eyes. "Don't make it weird, da...I mean Blitz''
The four of them headed toward the exit.
Behind them, the television suddenly flickered back on by itself.
The screen showed a live aerial view of Hell.
Far above the city, Heaven continued to descend down.
Blitzø stopped at the doorway.
He stared at the television.
His expression hardened. "Okay, Mr. Dome."
He cracked his knuckles. "Let's see what you've got."
Blitz closed the door.
.....
.....
The chamber aboard Doctor Doom's flagship was silent.
Lucifer Morningstar sat within the containment chamber, his weakened body slumped against the transparent wall. The restraints around his wrists and ankles remained locked in place, holding him in an X-shaped position. His once overwhelming demonic presence had been reduced to little more than a faint aura.
Across the room, Doctor Doom stood motionless. His white cloak hung behind him as a massive holographic projection illuminated the chamber.
A world. A completely new world.
Continents stretched across an unfamiliar planet. Vast cities rose from the surface, connected by enormous bridges and glowing highways. Towers reached toward the clouds, each bearing the unmistakable symbol of Doom.
Massive monuments depicting Doctor Doom stood at the center of cities. There was no chaos.
No crime. No war. No rebellion.
Everything appeared perfectly controlled.
Lucifer stared at the projection for several seconds.
He finally broke the silence. "Look, Mr. Tin Man. I understand you want to become ruler and all, but I really need to get back to Heaven."
He shifted against the restraints. "My wife is probably worried sick and..."
Doom didn't move. "Fool....''
Lucifer's expression flattened.
"You have yet to understand the gravity of what is coming." Doctor Doom said.
Doom slowly raised one hand.
The hologram changed.
The magnificent world disappeared. In its place appeared an enormous projection of Heaven.
Lucifer's eyes widened. The heavenly realm floated above a representation of Earth.
Then the holographic image began moving.
Heaven was descending. Slowly at first.
The radiant kingdom was on a collision course with the world below.
The image zoomed in.
The Pentagram appeared. Buildings stretched across the demonic city.
And above it, Heaven continued falling.
Lucifer stared. His mouth slowly opened. "Uh..."
He blinked stupidly. "I beg your finest pardon?"
Doom folded his arms. "Heaven is on a collision course with your world."
Lucifer stared blankly at him. "No."
Doom said nothing.
"No, no, no." Lucifer said.
Lucifer shook his head. "That's not a thing!'
"It is..." Doctor Doom said.
"How?"
Doom's metal mask remained emotionless. "An incursion threatens to collapse the barriers separating realities. The realms are being drawn together by forces neither Heaven nor Hell can control. And soon, it will impact earth....''
Lucifer looked back at the hologram. "But..."
His voice became quieter. "How could that even be possible?"
Doom finally turned toward him. "That is precisely why I must make Battle world...."
The hologram changed again. The new planet returned. "This world will be built from what remains...."
Lucifer's eyes narrowed. "And you're going to rule it."
"I will govern it." Doctor Doom said.
"Right." Lucifer gave him a tired look. "Because apparently 'rule' needed a fancy upgrade."
Doom ignored the remark. "Every world requires order. Every civilization requires protection. When the old realities collapse, there will be only one society capable of surviving."
"Mine....'' Doctor Doom said.
Lucifer stared at Battle world.
For the first time, there was something different in his expression.
Fear.
Not for himself.
For Lilith.
For Charlie.
For everyone.
"What are you saying?" Lucifer said nervously.
Doom turned away. "I am saying that the destruction you fear is already in motion."
Lucifer pulled against his restraints. "Then let me go!"
The restraints rattled violently. "I can stop this! I am king!''
Doom continued walking toward the chamber's exit. "Can you?"
Lucifer froze.
Doom stopped at the door. "You still believe this conflict is only between Heaven and Hell?''
He looked back over his shoulder. "It is not...."
Lucifer stared at him.
"You will understand, in time, what I did what had to be done...." Doom said coldly.
The mechanical doors began to open.
Lucifer's expression twisted with frustration. "Wait!"
Doom stepped through.
"Tin Man!''
The doors began closing.
"Doom!"
The opening became narrower.
Lucifer pulled desperately against the restraints. "What the fuck are you talking about?!"
''Hey, I'm not done talking to you, Mr! Release me at once!''
Doom disappeared behind the doors.
THOOM.
The mechanical doors sealed shut.
Silence returned.
Lucifer slowly stopped struggling.
His breathing became heavy.
He looked toward the empty space where Doom had stood.
Then toward the fading hologram of Battle world.
His voice dropped to a whisper. "Lilith..."
The holographic projection disappeared.