DO WHAT COMES NATURAL

Elfilin sealed the rift behind him before checking in on Penelope.

"Like I said, I'm used to traveling through rifts! Yours worked without much issue here." The Robloxian grinned.

But something was quite off with the life signal of the fortress's owner. It was as if...

"Excuse me if I point out something unusual, but... Your own signal mismatches the one I am used to."

Confusing at first, yes, but it would become clear that this was not quite the VEGA Y'Shua would know.

(oops, y'shua ends up in billy boy's fortress of doom. cue an awkward conversation with vega)

Y'shua strides forward a couple of steps, then immediately comes to a halt.

VEGA doesn't need to voice his question for the Slayer to recognize that something's wrong - he can already tell just from the way the launch bay looks, with some things being out of place from where he remembers them usually sitting. Differences in the architecture. Patterns in the wear and tear of things. Subtle details that you wouldn't notice unless you've lived here for a long, long time. This is not his Fortress of Doom.

He struggles to think of an explanation. The warp gate system installed in the Fortress was capable of cross-dimensional travel, yes, but he's never had an issue with it until (apparently) now. There hadn't been any sign of a problem when his suit's tether linked to the station, from what he or VEGA could tell during the moments leading up to his return.

The only remotely plausible answer he can think of is so utterly out there that it should be considered insane, if not a little silly, and yet Y'shua feels a little stupid for having never considered the possibility of an alternate version of himself until now.

Which still leaves him with the problem that this is not his Fortress of Doom, and this is not his VEGA he's talking to.

Y'shua turns to where he knows one of VEGA's cameras should be mounted in a corner of the launch bay, giving the AI a clear visual on him. A part of him wonders how much in common he has with this VEGA's Doom Slayer, if at all. Did they look the same? Sound the same? Probably not.

A glance towards the window shows a familiar sight; Earth, mottled with scars left over from the Hell invasion conducted by the Deag Priests. The last he recalls the current date was June, but if he's in a different reality...

"VEGA," he asks. If his voice isn't identical to whatever other Slayer lives here, then his question should be proof enough that he isn't the Slayer VEGA knows. "What's the current date?"

"It is currently May 27th, 2163." Vega's answer was sufficient proof that this was a different instance. The invasion process going (a bit) faster than expected must've sucked. "The Slayer I know of is currently carrying out his first mission on Earth since the previous century, from this dimension's perspective. He is also trying to search for a companion who got separated from him after Dr. Samuel Hayden sent them elsewhere via manipulation of tethering devices."

Huh. Someone else was with the other Doom Slayer when the UAC Mars Research Facility got ransacked by demons in this... Universe. But who? VEGA wouldn't say, at least not directly. Maybe it was for the best–anyone who follows him tends to be targeted by Hell too, as a rule of thumb.

"Ah, your voice is different from William's." VEGA noted.

So that's the other Doom Slayer's name.

"You should probably leave before he returns. You being here has... Peculiar implications. Dr. Hayden himself made research into potential travel to diverging instances of any one universe while I was stationed on Mars."

"I didn't think that this could be proven one day, and yet here we are. But no one else is witnessing this phenomenon. I have no idea if this is your first time experiencing it, or if it happened to you before."

VEGA fell silent for a while, likely monitoring his Slayer's progress.

"I'm afraid my suggestion about leaving this fortress earlier may not be possible. He is already close to interrupting the Hell Priest meeting."

"And only one portal can be opened at any give time from this location."

"I am glad to know that you are sensible enough to use every resource at your disposal, unlike some. I have no remaining questions, but I do extend an invitation to peruse our armory, you may find something of use there. Now, I must return to my warriors, they will need my council to prepare."

With that, the Shipmaster strides away, leaving Dahl and the Slayer alone.

"I guess that's that, then. But I want to tell you about Gomez, and I have something for you to do. Gomez is off combat duty for now while he recovers enough for us to pull him out of his armor, it's pretty much the only thing keeping him in one piece right now. He didn't just break his ribs, they punctured his lung, and that's the least of the medical complications."

"As for what I want you to do. You decided to include the Sangheili in this operation, so you should go familiarize yourself with the Sangheili, and pick one to take Gomez's place for now. Especially since you'll be leading our operations on the ground."

The Slayer shook his head, but the eye movement on his eyes was more that of a sense of humor than being angry at a mistake, hearing Kirby's difficulty with saying words. "...Would Doom suffice? Or Doomie, whichever is easier on ya. You'll get used to it."

"So you're Kirby. Where I'm from, it's quite common-- But any name is better than nothing. Nice meeting ya." The man smiled. "I'll show you around, then you can help yourself to certain facilities."

What really grabbed his attention was the fact that the man offered an alternative to something the child clearly had trouble saying. This was a bit unheard of for a complete stranger to do. Usually, the response would either be of irritation or more of an "eh, whatever" kind of attitude. It made him rethink not wanting to try again.

"Doooo...Doooom..."

"Doomy!"

Hmm. He was wondering where to show Kirby around first. The command center was already technically shown to him.

Maybe he could walk together with the kid through the hallways-- Show and tell him important landmarks of this station.

A curt nod from her. "Quite a shame to hear it. Civilized realms come and go, some more in the blink of an eye than others."

"Oh, there's a cafe where I'm headed for too? I'd appreciate being taken there!" Penelope expressed cheer at the mention of a place she could temporarily stay in.

"Teleportation? Well, I do have a friend capable of teleporting, but he's not here right now." The critter wondered what Dimentio would even think if he was around to witness this...cubic being.

"Uh, but don't worry! I have something just as good. Just give me a moment."

After rubbing his forehead with his little paws to dull the pain, he stretched out an arm and furrowed his brows to focus. Suddenly, the space in front of him began to tear, like reality itself had been cut open, forming a wonky star shape.

"I hope this one doesn't give me motion sickness. Some of these had given me that before, unfortunately." The Robloxian woman muttered. Again, she couldn't really decline an offer if it meant she could trust that the rift would send her where she needed to go. "I won't blame you if that were to happen, though. Abilities that help people move around several distances can take ages to master."

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A name? Why yes, that was one of the few things he knew how to say very well!

"Kirby."

Though when it came to other names...

"S...S-ss...Slur. Poyo..."

The Slayer shook his head, but the eye movement on his eyes was more that of a sense of humor than being angry at a mistake, hearing Kirby's difficulty with saying words. "...Would Doom suffice? Or Doomie, whichever is easier on ya. You'll get used to it."

"So you're Kirby. Where I'm from, it's quite common-- But any name is better than nothing. Nice meeting ya." The man smiled. "I'll show you around, then you can help yourself to certain facilities."

"Poyyy...!"

The little guy marveled in wonder at the mystical architecture. There was so much to observe, he wasn't sure where to start! As he began looking around, he was startled by the computerized voice overhead. However, he then smiled and tried to wave at...wherever it was coming from.

And then his attention was drawn to something else.

This planet...It looked eerily familiar somehow. More specifically, the shapes of the various land masses looked familiar. It reminded him of another world within his own galaxy, though that one was fully coated in ice and snow. Could this have been an alternate fate?

"..."

"That look on your face. You understand what's going on. Not entirely, but..." A bitter expression etched on his face, still beneath his helmet. For a child to show this much empathy is a rare, saddening sight. But the Slayer knew that it was proof that no matter the species, one could feel.

"That's Earth, kid. It ain't doing too well, though-- It is why I have this station near its orbit. I have Hell's forces to fend off before it's too late."

With that said...

"Well, there aren't a lot of areas here that are...developed. Not anymore, at least..."

A curt nod from her. "Quite a shame to hear it. Civilized realms come and go, some more in the blink of an eye than others."

"Oh, there's a cafe where I'm headed for too? I'd appreciate being taken there!" Penelope expressed cheer at the mention of a place she could temporarily stay in.