Vox checks the time. Sets the countdown.
One hour fifty minutes left.
Part of the electricity is fucked, so he has to zap from one visible place to another one from time to time.
And he's nowhere near the level of powers he used to have before the Incident. He cannot travel the distances he could earlier without taking breaks.
He knows he has to make breaks. He had to even when he was in full power.
Alastor taught it to him in his usual cruel manner when they were enemies; they fought within an enclosed area, and Alastor kept attacking him with shadows, and he kept zapping and dodging, so reckless and confident in his ability to do this dance without consequences, to show off; that was until he went completely exhausted, unable to teleport, and Alastor beat him up thoroughly, mocking him all the way until Vox's legs gave out and he just fell.
When he really thinks about it now, there was more mockery than damage. No limbs were torn off. More hits then wounds, as well.
Alastor really had a soft spot for him all this time, didn't he?
He tries not to think about Alastor, because he glitches immediately. It's irrational, but Vox wants him close, next to him, right there. He wants to be able to shield him. To protect him. To know for sure he's alright.
But Vox wouldn't be able to shield Alastor under the stream of angelic energy. He had no choice. Other Ring is the best option now. No one knows how the fight with Michael turns out.
He tries not to think about that either. Not to think about how Hotel went destroyed within seconds. He repaired all the damages in the Entertainment District that were caused by the canon, but he never really thought about how it felt.
And that was just a beam. Not a wave. Not a silent flash of light that reduced everything to atoms.
He calls Ethan during his five minute breaks, trying not to think that every second one of them might get erased. Connection doesn't work on every spot, either.
"Mr. Vox? What's going on? We saw the... flash, and..."
"Lucifer went ballistic. Gather ten top performers in every department. Get Melissa and Travis. Shock.wav. And Angel fucking Dust, since his brand is still on point. I want you on the ruins of the Hotel as fast as possible, let's hope it doesn't get hit with angelic beam twice. Lilith will collect us from there. Tell everyone else to get to the underground floors, preferably - to get locked down from the inside in the basement, it's plated by angelic steel. It's the best protection they can get. Let them stay there for the next 24 hours, we will contact and come back for them once the air with fucking Satan is clear. Tell them not to bother with bringing tech or provisions, there are provisions in the basement, instruct someone on how to get them after the threshold of the first six hours runs out.
Tell Melissa to contact Velvette in any way possible, tell her to get the fuck out to another Ring - I know her rituals allow that - and if you succeed, let me know, because I'll be looking for her in the meantime. We have less than an hour to complete all of that. Less than an hour, you hear me? Afterwards Lilith will not wait."
Always better to set a minimum threshold than have your people die on you. This way they'll have half an hour spare.
"Got it, sir," Vox can almost see him nod on the other side of the phone.
That's why Ethan is invaluable. Never argues. Always knows when emergency IS emergency.
"Pleasebecareful," Ethan breathes out, before Vox hangs the phone.
Right. He has yet to reach Carmine's territory.
They probably won't let him in, but they will at least hear him out.
The goal is for Vel to be safe, not for them to hold hands and sing the song of friendship, after all. He needs her safe. He will never forgive himself otherwise.
And then Vox will need to get back to the hotel. He needs to.
He didn't even tell Alastor goodbye. He cannot die on him.
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