Sliders : Hackers Of HeavenNet

<> Demiurge says "Mazpatiel, Daimon, and Chephirah had just tumbled through from Purity Heaven."

<> Mazpatiel says "Some of us with a stranglehold on others. :)"

... and the world changes. High blocks of silicon-laced darkness rise above them, humming with electricity. The paving under their feet is smooth and efficient. Occasional doors and windows glow with light.

The first through is Daimon, then Chephirah, then Mazpatiel clutching her.

Chephirah's wings splay and spread, instinctively putting feathers between Mazpatiel and Daimon.

Daimonique oofs and tumbles through the portal.

Mazpatiel hits the ground and rolls, releasing the scarf and coming up with wings spread for balance. "Earth."

<> Demiurge says "Pat... this doesn't look like Earth."

Chephirah says, somewhat stricken, "Oh, dear."

<> Mazpatiel has never been to Earth. But has heard stories! And this sure ain't Heaven. :)

Daimonique looks around. "Woah. This doesn't look good."

<> Jordan points out Mazpatiel has his wings still!

<> Demiurge says "Yup!"

<> Mazpatiel says "There is a rational explanation here."

Mazpatiel looks around, still crouched, sword hilt ready. He frowns.

<> Jordan says "Left it in the other pants, did you?"

Daimonique says "This isn't home. Maybe we should jump back through and try again."

Chephirah takes a deep breath. "A... Lightning-Heaven, I would guess." She edges a little to one side, wingtips fluttering slightly.

Chephirah says, "Daimon, dear - we, ah, have a guest."

Mazpatiel looks between Chephirah and Daimonique. "You have precisely thirty seconds to tell me what's going on."

Daimonique looks around. "We do? Oh... we do. Oops."

Chephirah says, "I'm afraid you were accidentally taken with us into a parallel universe or some such."

Mazpatiel says "That is a falsehood. There is but one world."

Daimonique says "No, there turns out to be lots of worlds. And we're taking a tour of them all, up close and personal. Um, your head is still sticky."

Mazpatiel says "I know. I'm considering whether or not to kill you for it."

Daimonique says "Erm.... do I get a say in that decision?"

<> Eduardo says "KILL KILL KILLLLLLLLL"

<> Eduardo says "Er. Sorry."

Mazpatiel says "No. You have already demonstrated an unbalanced sense of judgment."

<> Mazpatiel /was/ an Elohite once.

Chephirah says, mildly, "I'm afraid I'll have to insist on a say, one way or another."

<> Jordan says "A very pure Elohite."

Daimonique says "Well, yeah. But I like being alive. If I said I was sorry, would it help?"

Mazpatiel says "No."

Daimonique says "Oh."

Mazpatiel flicks eyes across the scene, keeping the other two in his peripheral vision.

Daimonique says helpfully, "If you don't kill me, I can tell you how to get home."

From a side alley can be heard the rhythmic sound of footfalls, accompanied by notes of static. They are approaching, and there is more than one person.

Daimonique looks at Chephirah, then for somewhere to hide.

Mazpatiel holds up a hand and backs against the nearest wall, hilt held away from his body.

Chephirah repeats, "Oh, dear," and extends a wing protectively toward Daimonique.

"And God created the first.Net, and God saw that the Net was good," intones a bass voice, between footfalls. In a flicker of scarlet and gold, a figure that can only be a Cherub paces alongside a humanoid with batwings, swishing a stylised tail.

Chephirah *stares* at the bat wings.

Chephirah thoughtfully maneuvers Daimon closer to the portal.

Mazpatiel's eyes darken, and he resonates on batwing!

Daimonique is very easily steered. This is wacky.

The batwinged being, horns and tail and all, is clearly... Shannen. A silver-wired collar rests neatly round her throat, occasionally flashing.

<> Mazpatiel rolls the d666 and gets 1 5 CHECK: 1.

<> Demiurge says "Pat, the most noble thing Shannen did recently was to consider Redeeming. However, she is not very Pure at all."

<> Mazpatiel says "/consider/ Redeeming? As in, she didn't?"

<> Demiurge says "She's still thinking about it. It hasn't happened yet."

<> Mazpatiel says "Time to force the issue. Flame on!"

Mazpatiel steps to intercept Shannen, extending the hilt of his sword and willing it to life.

Daimonique pokes Chephirah. While he's distracted!

With a warning growl, the Cherub paces forwards to intercept the challenge. It's like no lion that ever existed on earth, execpt.. perhaps on knightly shields. "Name yourself, and your business." It growls softly.

Chephirah whispers, "We can't just abandon him, Daimon!"

Shannen pulls at her collar experimentally every now and then, peering about curiously and with a little bit of disgust "Soo.." She points off at a building "..what's in that place?"

Daimonique whispers back, "I bet we could if we tried!"

Mazpatiel says "Mazpatiel, the Judgment of God. My business is to bring purity to this place."

The Cherub studies Mazpatiel through slitted eyes. "Who?"

Chephirah whispers, "Daimon! We need to get everyone back to their right places. Mazpatiel, even as a Malakite, included!"

Daimonique whispers back, "But he's a totally _mean_ and _scary_ and still sticky Malakite."

Mazpatiel says "It does not matter if you do not know me. All that matters is that that one purifies herself, or suffers destruction."

Chephirah whispers, "Then find him a bath and you'll be a third of the way done."

Shannen folds her batwings over her face, cowering back behind the Cherub. There's a whimper of, "You told me I was safe!"

With a lurch, the Cherub rises on its hind feet, pawing at the air to answer, "In good time, Mazpatiel, self-named Judgement. Know that I am her guardian here, by order to the sword. None shall harm her whilst I still stand."

With a crackle, a pale beam of light flickers into being as the Cherub activates some strange sword of it's own. Soemthing which has a beam of.. electric-blue light instead of a metal blade?

Daimonique whispers to Chephirah, "He won't take a bath. He's too pure even for water."

<> Daimonique says "Lightsaber!"

<> Chephirah says "LIGHT SABERS IN HEAVEN!"

<> Demiurge grins.

<> Daimonique says "YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!"

Mazpatiel brings his own blade up. "I cannot accept that."

"When did you last report to HeavenNet, servant of Judgement?" the other angel asks, bringing the sword to an en garde.

Chephirah whispers, "Have you *tried*?", and then looks over to the crackle. Her other wing covers her eyes for a moment.

Daimonique's eyes get very big and round. Lightsabers RULE. This is gonna kick ass.

<> Eduardo says "The Light In God's Hand That Summons and Brings Retribution to Evil. (Forces 2, entropy 2, requires a flashlight. Vulgar Celestial Chorus Rote)"

<> Eduardo says "Oops. Wrong game."

<> Arcangel cheers Eddie.

<> Mazpatiel laughs at Ed, and will have to steal that.

Chephirah calls, "Mazpatiel, please. Give the poor thing some time."

Mazpatiel says "I do not report to a marginal fence-walker, Guardian."

The Cherub extends silvery claws on one paw, and drops down to all four pads again, fanning its wings. Electricity sparks as the claws mark out patterns against the circuits on the ground. "I know nought of fence-walkers, Mazpatiel, but I do know when mine honour and that of heaven is impugned."

Daimonique oooohs. This is cool.

Mazpatiel rocks backwards, holding the sword above his head with both hands, angled downward. "Any place that would harbor such corruption, let alone protect it, is an offense to the purity of God."

The Cherub swings back and aims a light cuff to the Malakite's face with a wrist-cuff. "Take up the gauge," it growls, "If you wish to pursue the matter. Else answer to my superior."

Chephirah calls, "What of restoring it *to* that purity, Mazpatiel?"

Mazpatiel curls his left wing around, flicking it above the ground in just the right way to sweep the cuff into the air, from which he plucks it.

<> Mazpatiel says "LET MORTAL KOMBAT BEGIN!"

There is a moment's silence as the air settles, then the Cherub inclines its great head. "So be it. Are you willing to accept an arbiter from the spires, Mazpatiel?"

Daimonique settles down on the ground next to Chephirah, and sits, indian-style.

Shannen remains carefully behind the Cherub, though she lowers her wings a bit to watch.

Mazpatiel says "If you feel it necessary to assure your propriety."

<> Mazpatiel says "Mmm...backhanded honour insults."

Chephirah says, weakly, "This is utter madness."

<> Mazpatiel is a Malakite. Utter madness is written into every inch of his Forces.

Another moment of silence, as the Cherub raises a front paw in a perfect model of lion passant. Every line of its body tenses and the claws flex. Then without another word it leads the way towards the spires.

Daimonique says, "But it has lightsabers and duels!"

Mazpatiel launches himself into the air with a single ripple of inky wings, following the Cherub and his target.

Chephirah whispers to Daimonique, "Duels are not good things!"

Daimonique says "It is when one of the people wanted to kill you!"

Chephirah nudges her with a wing, hastily. "That wasn't his fault. Come along - we can't lose track of him."

Daimonique gets up. "Oh, okay. I don't really want to see people get hurt, but the special effects budget here is awesome."

Chephirah murmurs, "Daimonique, dear, you're utterly impossible," and follows Cherub and Malakite with some dismay.

A large archway gives into the HeavenNet Spires. Inside, the walls and ceiling and floor are all void-dark silicon, threaded with circuitry like comets. Several large booths stand to one side of the entrance hall, headsets next to them.

Shannen also hastily flies after her guardian Cherub.

Daimonique follows after Chephirah, loyally.

The Cherub's claws click against the circuitry as it sweeps round to stand foursquare by one of the booths.

Daimonique looks around with detacted interest.

Mazpatiel brakes with a few quick flutters, landing a handful of paces from the Cherub, still tensed.

Shannen hesitates towards the headsets. She says, timidly, to the Cherub, "May I watch, Guardian?"

Chephirah's ears twitch tensely; she remains by Daimon's side.

With a flicker of actinic light, a holographic humanoid figure is superimposed on the lion. The Cherub turns to you with emotionless eyes, bows once, and taps out a code at a keyboard at the booth. It seems to be logging in. "You may," it says to Shannen, without turning. It knows precisely where she is."

Mazpatiel wrinkles his brow. Where's all the hacking at each other?

Daimonique wow. This is Mega Jean Heaven.

Shannen picks up one of the headsets, and carefully seats it on her head, clasping flaps over her ears and eyes.

Daimonique thinks about good ways to bringing it all crashing down with a massive boot sector virus.

Doors on two of the booths swing open, showing comfortable-looking seats inside, with armrests for the hands, and headsets.

Daimonique nudges Chephirah. "This is seriously wacky."

Shannen says, towards the Lilim and the Cherub, tentatively "Aren't you going to watch too?"

Chephirah replies to Daimonique, "I'm increasingly aware of that."

Mazpatiel just watches his opponent. This is making no sense.

With no more ado, the Cherub seats itself, pushing red-gold hair to one side, to reveal a small jack-point. It leans back comfortably against the seat.

A smooth, deep, ungendered voice says from the second booth, "Please will Duellist 2 seat himself and prepare for combat."

Daimonique boggles. It's a Neuromancer universe.

Daimonique finds this amazingly cool. She's attracted to crazy technology toys like a moth to a flame or to a whore to a baggy of crack.

Mazpatiel snuffs his sword, looking into the booth warily

Inside is a dark-leather-sheathed seat, with armrests, and a headset. There are no obvious controls.

Daimonique wanders over to the seat and examines it.

Mazpatiel steps into the booth, seating himself, working his wings until they are comfortable.

The door on the Cherub's booth swings shut.

The headset clicks down over Mazpatiel's face, and the arms of the chair shift slightly under his hands till they are comfortable. And ... his view changes.

Mazpatiel says "ur"

Daimonique goes over to the wall and examines the headsets. A moment later, she's trying one on for size.

A deep voice that sounds, somehow, _exactly_ like that of Jordan, says in Mazpatiel's ears, "You are about to play Armageddon Fighter. Please select your character. Do you wish to play an Archangel or Demon Prince?"

<> Chephirah HOWLS.

Mazpatiel mouths 'Armageddon fighter?' then speaks "Archangel."

Daimonique . o O ( COOLNESS. )

The headset seems to seal itself round Daimon's head... and his vision expands to show a computer-like virtual scene, with Shannen standing next to him to watch, and with a CyberSeraph - Jordan - hovering above.

Daimonique grooves on this. Cool.

Jordan's voice says, in Pat's ears, "Please select your Archangel."

Mazpatiel . o O ( This has to be heretical. )

<> Daimonique is just giggling.

Mazpatiel replies without hesitation. "Uriel."

<> Daimonique says "MORTAL COMBAT! Finish him!"

There is a brief pause, then Jordan's voice says, "That Archangel is not available. Please select a different Archangel."

(To the watchers, Jordan wears a silvery visor over his middle pair of eyes, and has little silvery rings implanted flat, just behind his uppermost pair of golden eyes. his scales seem to have an irredescent CD-ROM sheen over the tiger's-eye scales. He is wearing a black T-shirt with "NetCop" on it in intricate silvery celtic knotwork letters. There is some kind of techie-looking equipment in a backpack he is wearing between his wings. A curling wire leads from one silver ring to the backpack.)

Mazpatiel blinks. "Who is available?"

Jordan's voice says, smoothly, "Please select from Blandine, David, Dominic, Gabriel, Janus, Jean, Marc, Michael, Nybbas, Vapula, Yves. Laurence has already been selected by the other player."

<> Chephirah says "NYBBAS AND VAPULA"

<> Daimonique says "WOAH!!!!"

Mazpatiel understands, now. Clearly, in denying his purity for 'Balance', Jean has gone mad and Fallen. This is his mockery of Heaven.

<> Daimonique selects Vapula. Zap zap zap!

<> Chephirah says "No WONDER Shannen's an impudite!"

<> Demiurge says "Chephirah, if not wearing a headset, hears and sees none of this. Daimonique just seems to be standing there."

Mazpatiel says "Dominic."

<> Daimonique chases Laurence around with a zapgun.

Chephirah sees and hears none of this, but can keep watch over Daimonique. Given the mutability of much of the rest of the universe, she's more than happy with that.

In Daimon's ear, a very agrieved Jordan whispers, "Dai-mo-nique! Where have you *been*? There's been a routing problem in the Tribunal for the past twenty minutes -- in *your* machines!"

There is a pause, then Jordan's voice says, smoothly, "Enter play."

Daimonique speaks quietly, "I've been attempting to repair a downed Cisco card in the main router. It blew out it's third bank of connections!"

There is a tingling sensation. Mazpatiel finds himself standing - or rather, poised in what _feels_ like a Seraphic body, and a long dark cloak - on a rocky landscape, facing a "Laurence". Above floats Jordan. Daimonique and Shannen watch.

<> Jordan rolls the d666 and gets 3 4 CHECK: 1.

In Daimonique's ear, Jordan says, "Don't make stuff up to *me*, Dai."

Mazpatiel hms. Well, this is somewhat in line with the legends of Dominic. Alright.

Jordan's voice counts down, for everyone else, "Three. Two. One."

Daimonique whispers, "Okay. Well, I've been busy doing stuff."

There is a pause. Jordan's voice says, "Combat."

The opposing figure brings up a bright sword, swinging it in easy figures as it paces towards the Seraph. Then without a warning, two sharp knives arrow their way towards you.

Mazpatiel spins, flaring his cloak out to catch the knives, seeking a weapon of his own.

In Daimonique's ear, Jordan whispers, "Well, you'd better get back to work soon, or your title as exalted GodHacker is in danger, kid."

The cloak catches the knives, sweeping them aside. A fiery sword hangs at "Dominic"'s belt, conveniently.

Daimonique . o O ( WOAH. Godhacker! Excellent! )

Daimonique whispers "After this fight."

<> Mazpatiel says "Daimonique, Lilim of Lightning, Friend of Hackers?"

<> Daimonique wooos!

In Daimonique's ear, Jordan whispers, "You *could* jack in and handle your work remotely, like *some* of us deign to do..."

Mazpatiel slides the sword out of the robes, making a mental note of the sound effects booming 'FIAT JUSTITIA' above him as he strikes a defensive pose.

Daimonique whispers, "Or I could blow it off for a few more minutes while I wait for people to burn up their quarters."

<> Demiurge laughs out loud at Mazpatiel.

<> Daimonique LAUGHS AND LAUGHS!

<> Jordan applauds Pat!

<> Mazpatiel knows all of Dominic's special moves, see. :)

<> Daimonique is just laughing so hard here.

<> Daimonique says "Pretty soon, I'll be laughing so hard I'll be crying."

In Daimonique's ear, Jordan whispers, "Yeah, yeah. Just don't come asking who drank your Jolt. Oh, and who *is* this Malakite? I'm not finding him on the databases. We're having to use a neurofield to plug him in."

The other figure's dark hair is rippled by a breeze, and the sword shifts as it balances from foot to foot. Then it dances forwards, turning a double handspring and suddenly you are in close combat. The blade flashes, high and then low, seeking an opening.

Daimonique whispers, "I dunno who he is. Just some guy."

In Daimonique's ear, Jordan hisses, "Daaaaaaiiiiiiimmmmooonnnnn. Are you fibbing to me again?"

Daimonique whispers "Just a little."

In Daimonique's ear, Jordan hisses, despite having no sibilants in that sentence!

In Daimonique's ear, Jordan whispers, "Well, quit it, kid. I've got enough, trying to compensate for *your* absense and monitor HeavenNet *and* this duel..."

Daimonique whispers, "Okay, okay, he's this Malakite of Purity that got his head covered with sticky sweet candy goo."

Mazpatiel holds the defensive at first, using his flaming blade to block the more obvious strikes, and folds of dark cloth to defend and confuse. Internally, he thinks back to the tales of when Judgment was still personified in Heaven, seeking the powers attributed to the Most Just of all the Host.

In Daimonique's ear, Jordan whispers, "Purity???"

Daimonique whispers, "Yup. Tsaydim."

In Daimonique's ear, Jordan whispers, "Oh, great. What's he doing in Heaven, fighting with a Laurencian?"

<> Mazpatiel says "Purifying it, you geek. :)"

<> Demiurge says "Pat, you do remember something about him crying, "Let Justice Be Done!" and throwing his sword to fight enemies on its own."

<> Jordan notes that he used the 'sarcasm' modifier for 'great'.

<> Mazpatiel says "YA YA YA!"

Daimonique whispers, "Getting out his aggressions?"

Above the two fighting figures, on either side of Jordan, two energy bars both decrease a little.

<> Mazpatiel has clearly done the first part of the special move. All that remains is an opening to throw it.

One Energy Bar is labelled LAURENCE, the other DOMINIC.

In Daimonique's ear, Jordan whispers, "Daimonique, give me a little help here, or I'm going to make some very interesting reports to our boss."

As the two spar, Mazpatiel spies an opening in "Laurence"'s defence. The bright blade whips up suddenly, slashing towards the "Seraph"s face where the robes part. Then it arcs down in a feint maneuver.

Mazpatiel throws the Sword end-over-end, simultaneously withdrawing at full speed, to watch from on high the forthcoming Judgment.

Daimonique whispers, "He'll feel much better after this, I bet."

In Daimonique's ear, Jordan whispers, "Are we going to have to call in full security after this duel, Dai?"

<> Mazpatiel says "Yes. You are all impure."

Daimonique whispers, "That would be a great idea. He might be dangerous and violent."

The Sword of Dominic flashes across the screen, spins three times round "Laurence", flashes more brightly, then strikes. "Laurence"'s energy bar goes down dramatically.

In Daimonique's ear, Jordan makes muffled sputtering noises. "Oh, that's just GREAT. Right."

Another sword appears in Mazpatiel's hand.

"Laurence"'s energy bar is barely there. "Dominic"'s is still fairly full.

Mazpatiel holds the sword in a guard position, waiting for 'Laurence' to approach, his other hand emerging with a stylized pair of crystalline balance scales.

Recoiling as if actually hurt, "Laurence" raises his sword high into the air, and his lips move. The blade gleams with an orange aura as he swings it back into a 'ready' position.

Daimonique whispers, "Wackiness happens, Jordan. I'm a wacky magnet."

Mazpatiel extends the scale-bearing hand forward, and the pans begin to rotate, expanding into a glowing disc-shaped shield, as he raises the sword and advances.

In Daimonique's ear, Jordan whispers, "I *have* noticed that, Dai."

Daimonique whispers, "That's my total explanation."

Weaving the blessed blade in a hypnotic figure-of-eight pattern, "Laurence" paces forwards to meet the challenge.

In Daimonique's ear, Jordan whispers, "No, that's the *short* explanation. The total explanation is what I'm going to get later if I have to crack it out of your personal report to the Most Just."

Then with a swing, the glowing blade sweeps down, slicing through the shield as if it were sheer silk, and slicing through the robe beneath. The "Dominic" energy bar takes a rapid fall.

Daimonique whispers, "If I told you now, Jordan, it would ruin the surprise."

Mazpatiel feels a mild sensation, akin to an electric shock, down that side.

Mazpatiel grits his teeth in his booth, and in the 'duel' brings his own sword down, full strength.

In Daimonique's ear, Jordan whispers, "You know how much I dislike surprises, Dai. I like things to run smoothly and predictably."

Daimonique whispers, "But I like things weird and strange and interesting."

Mazpatiel . o O ( Pain is an illusion. Pain is the lie of Satan. The pure heart can ignore all ills for the glory of God. )

The swordblow bites deep into "Laurence", who falls to the ground in an elegant arch of black feathers. His energy bar winks out.

Jordan's voice comes from above, smooth and even. "Player Two has won the duel. Game Over."

Mazpatiel lowers the sword and withdraws, robes swirling about him and pooling on the ground.

Outside, in the main hall, a Seraph comes drifting in, followed by several large Malakim and Cherubim - all bearing evidence of cyberjacks or other circuitry. The Seraph is recognisable as Jordan.

In his booth, the headset folds away from Mazpatiel, and he finds himself just ... sitting there. The door slowly swings open.

Shannen pulls off her headset, shivering. "Woooh... that was cool."

Mazpatiel steps out of the booth, flexing the fingers of his left hand. The empty hilt has returned to his right.

Daimonique pulls off the headset and goes, "Cool."

At the other seat, the Cherub rises slowly to its feet. As it sees Mazpatiel, it turns and bows in acknowledgement.

Jordan circles around, letting the Big Beefy Angels stay between him and the Tsayadite. He heads straight for Dai and Chephirah.

Mazpatiel nods to the Cherub, and looks to Shannen.

Shannen hides behind her Cherub.

Daimonique looks mild and out of vessel and totally Creationeresque.

"If I might ask a moment in which to deattune," the Cherub rumbles, letting the hologram dissipate. In leonine form it swings its great head round towards Shannen.

Shannen whimpers. "You're not going to let him kill me?"

Mazpatiel nods to the Cherub. "Of course. I would not wish you tainted as a consequence of misled judgment."

Daimonique says "He's big into Purity."

Jordan says, "No killing the redemption candidate!

The Cherub murmurs, "We fought an honourable duel. The matter is decided."

Jordan draws himself up in his T-shirt, with his back-pack cyberdeck between his wings. "I cite juristictional priority. No killing the Impudite at this time!"

Mazpatiel looks at Jordan for a long moment. "You were so much brighter, before. I would have heeded you, then." He turns to Shannen. "You will decide, Fallen, and you will decide now. You will purify yourself in the light of God, or you will die by my hand."

Jordan squints half his eyes. "Tsayadite, Uriel is removed from Heaven by God's hand. You are out of order."

The Cherub lowers itself to a guard position, eyes flicking watchfully between Jordan, Mazpatiel and Shannen.

Daimonique says "He's very big on this killing thing, I'm afraid."

Mazpatiel says "This place is a darkened glass, River of Judgment. If you have any inkling of your former purpose, you will realize this."

Jordan twitches his tail, sending cybernetic messages to the Big Beefy Angels to protect the redemption candidate and prepare to subdue the Malakite.

Jordan snorts. "Former purpose? I am doing what I am created to do, Malakite! I am a Servitor of Judgment. And *you* do not have the right to judge this redemption candidate."

<> Demiurge says "Oddly, Pat, your automatic Malakite of Purity resonance is showing that Jordan here _is_ pure of purpose."

Mazpatiel says "I have the right and the duty to make this place pure once more. She is an aberration."

<> Mazpatiel says "He's just misguided."

Jordan hisses, "She is here to learn *how* to become an angel. If she were exposed to the Light of Heaven now, she would die. We seek a living angel, not a dead demon!"

Jordan adds, "And besides, she hasn't been fully debriefed yet on what Princess Novalis plans."

Mazpatiel says "Either are preferable to her current state. I will have this out now, rather than tolerate her another moment longer in God's Kingdom."

Jordan says, "Tsayadite, you are an *OUTCAST*. You have *NO RIGHT* to say what will or will not be tolerated in Heaven!" He looks rather outraged.

<> Mazpatiel says "Oh, Jordan. Poor Jordan."

<> Jordan shakes his head. Poor Malakite.

Daimonique siiiighs. Time to get Chephirah and make our goodbyes.

The Large and Beefy Cybered angels backing Jordan up move to a more aggressively defensive position - though not as yet attacking.

Daimonique starts to motion to Chephirah and starts backing up slowly toward the door.

A hologram of Jordan pops up next to Dai. "Hey. Kid. Where *did* this guy come from?"

Mazpatiel closes his eyes, reverting to a calm reminiscent of his former Choir. "Jordan. Out of respect for who you were, I will ignore that insult to my honour and my Archangel. But I am taking the demon, and if you attempt to stop me, I will ask only that God forgive me for slaying a friend."

<> Jordan rolls the d666 and gets 2 3 CHECK: 1.

<> Jordan says "Okay, he believes this stuff..."

<> Mazpatiel says "Oh /yes/ he does. :)"

Daimonique starts a bit. "I told you. He's an angel of Purity."

Chephirah backs up along Daimonique. She calls towards Mazpatiel, "Mazpatiel, we may be able to get you back to your Heaven..."

Jordan says, "Malakite, listen to me. I am as I was made to be by Dominic, Archangel of Judgment. Uriel has been removed to the Higher Heavens for centuries now. The Servitors of Purity who did not accept new Archangels are Outcasts. I am Seraph and I speak Truth."

The Cherub's red ears prick up and swivel.

The HoloJordan near Dai and Chephirah does a triple-take with each pair of eyes.

Daimonique continues to back up. Time to go....

The HoloJordan near Dai and Chephirah hisses, "*Back to *HIS* Heaven*??"

Mazpatiel's eyes snap open. "Dominic is dead. I took his name and his purpose as my own in memorial of his sacrifice. You did as well. If you persist in the profanation of the sacred names of Judgment and Purity, I will be forced to doubt your statement of Choir. Let me purify the Fallen, and we will have no quarrel."

<> Mazpatiel says "Man. In every universe, Jordan has no tact. :)"

Daimonique looks a little guilty. "Did I leave out that little detail?"

Jordan spreads his tawny wings. "Am I not feathered, Virtue? Dominic is alive. I do not know what Balseraph you have been listening to, if you do not believe what you can see here. Ask any Seraph in Heaven. You will get the same answer."

The HoloJordan hisses, "Apparently."

Daimonique says "Oops. Sorry."

The HoloJordan hisses, "Explain *FAST*, so we can defuse this."

Mazpatiel says "Then the entirety of this place is falsehood."

Daimonique calls out, "We're going now, Mazpatiel! Pack up your righteousness."

Jordan winces. "You must have been captured by the Lightbringer himself..." he mutters.

The HoloJordan mutters, "You owe me a case of Jolt, GodHackerkid."

Mazpatiel says "I will not ask again, Jordan. Give me the demon."

Chephirah says, "Most Holy, we're just going to escort this Malakite out of here." She's backing towards the exit as she speaks.

The Big and Burly Security Angels are moving towards Mazpatiel.

Daimonique says "He'll be happier once we give him a shove - erm, once we lead him somewhere more Purity happy."

Jordan says, heavily, "The demon is not mine to give. You may plead your case before the Seraphim Council."

The HoloJordan says, "What *are* you two talking about??"

Mazpatiel says "Then stand aside, and I will present them with fait accompli. She is anathema."

Chephirah calls, a touch frantically, "Remember the disk, Mazpatiel? We can get back to ... the place you came from! But if we go, you'll be _trapped_ here."

Jordan says, "That is injustice, and dissonance to me. The demon's fate or destiny is not in our hands. It is in the hands of the Council."

The HoloJordan _eyes_ Chephirah.

Daimonique sighs. Maybe we should just leave Mazpatiel here. He's obviously happy.

Mazpatiel says "Her existence is impurity, and destruction to me."

Jordan says, "Virtue, this is not your choice to make. It is out of your hands."

Shannen starts crying. "They told me I'd have time to think about it and to talk to people! This isn't _fair_! It isn't _honourable_!"

<> Jordan points out to Dai that if they leave this Pat here, maybe it will bump all the Pats along by one!

Mazpatiel faces Shannen. "You do not /belong/ here, Damned one!"

<> Daimonique says "ACK!!!"

<> Jordan says "That would leave FiatPat in Holy War universe!"

Mazpatiel says "You soil this place!"

Daimonique says "Neither do you, Pat."

<> Jordan rolls the d666 and gets 1 1 CHECK: 5.

Jordan stiffens. "Dear God!" he whispers. "Daimonique speaks TRUTH! Virtue, wherever you came from, you do not belong *HERE*."

<> Mazpatiel says "FiatPat would have put five bullets into HW Dominic's head the moment he Fell. :)"

<> Demiurge laughs.

Mazpatiel nods. "Then I will cleanse this place with my parting." And with a rush of sackcloth blackness, he is in the air, and a moment later his sword flashes into a hand-held crematorium as he dives for Shannen.

Shannen shrieks and cowers.

Jordan says to the Big Burly Angels, "Grab him."

Daimonique abracadabras more sticky goo onto Pat's head!

The Big Burly Angels pile in on Mazpatiel, somewhat confused by the goo.

<> Daimonique says "I'm caramelizing his head."

<> Daimonique says "At least his head is tastee."

Jordan slinks over to Daimon, and the HoloJordan winks out. "Daimonique, kid, co-worker. Talk fast."

Daimonique says "He comes from a universe which is all Purity."

Jordan squinches all his visible eyes. "Okay. Keep talking."

Shannen shrieks again as Mazpatiel's blade cleaves into her side, but before he can fully kill her, the angels piling on him - and the caramel oozing over his head - manage to subdue him. One large Cherub sits on his back, while two Malakim hold his arms and wings, and a third pries the sword out of his hand.

Daimonique says "And he thinks everything should pure... you know, I'm going to run out of essence doing that."

Jordan tosses over his head, "Cherub! Get her healed and re-attune!"

Shannen lies there, bleeding and sobbing, in shock.

Jordan passes Daimonique a measure of Essence.

Jordan says, "Keep talking. How do you know all this?"

Daimonique says "Boy, and I know he wanted to kill me BEFORE."

Mazpatiel screams out, fighting the angels on top of him. "YOU WILL ALL BURN IN THE LIGHT OF PURITY! DAMNED! CORRUPTED SERPENTS IN THE GARDEN OF THE LORD!"

Daimonique says "Because I was in Purity Land."

The Cherub snaps to attention, coming to life as it is given an order by someone in authority. It turns to Shannen, nudging with the tip of its nose, and licks at her wound as it sings healing.

Mazpatiel, of course, is muffled by the caramel, but the sentiment comes through.

One of the Malakim produces a pair of handcuff-type restraints, and Mazpatiel's hands are fastened behind him.

Jordan closes all his visible eyes. "Urk!" He peeeeers at Dai with the visored eyes. "Okay, does this have to do with where your cyberjack and 'deck went?"

Daimonique says "It might. Although I may have just misplaced that stuff. Silly me, silly Stuff."

Mazpatiel shrieks at the Malakim. "Your purpose has been betrayed, brothers! You serve the agents of the First among Liars! Free me and take up arms to cleanse this place!"

Jordan says, "Daimonique, ease off on the Silly Stuff. You're sounding like a demon of Eli."

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 4 4 CHECK: 4.

Daimonique says "You should sedate him."

There is a celestial ripple as one of the subduing Malakim Sings Ethereal Harmony.

Daimonique says "Ah, there you go."

Jordan says "Okay, let me get this straight. He's from somewhere, some *other* Heaven, where Uriel wasn't drawn into the Higher Heavens? And you are from...?"

Daimonique says "Hell, originally."

Jordan says "Besides that."

Daimonique says "Shal-Mari."

Jordan rubs his forehead with his tailtip. "Dai, work with me. Are you from *this* Heaven, or do you, too, not belong here?"

Daimonique says "I'm from _a_ Heaven."

<> Jordan rolls the d666 and gets 3 2 CHECK: 4.

Jordan gets that pole-axed look of a Seraph getting a WEIRD Truth.

Mazpatiel no longer thrashes about, but is still speaking with rapid vehemence. "Lies and corruption. Demons ranked amongst the most holy of the Host. Dead angels given false life. The damned allowed to walk sanctified streets. You are misled, my brothers. You need not compromise yourself like this."

Daimonique sighs. "Hey, eat some of the caramel, Pat. You'll feel yummier."

The Malakite who just Sang says, quietly, "We know the Truth, brother Virtue. You are acting illogically and without reason. Calm yourself."

Jordan slithers over to Mazpatiel. "Virtue. You are not in the place you should be. Your Purity is not appropriate here. You must return to your old Heaven, where your Purity is required."

<> Jordan has, mind, this utterly stunned look in his visible eyes, but hey. The Truth is Weird around Dai. He knew this.

Mazpatiel looks at Jordan, eyes hard. "There is no place in creation that does not require purity. But of them all, it is those who spurn it who need it the most. One day, Jordan, these skies will darken with the wrath of the Lord. And I will weep for your blindness."

<> Daimonique says "The entire symphony bends itself into contortions around me, trying to keep up with my non-logic."

Jordan sighs. Quietly, he says, "Mazpatiel, Purity was withdrawn to the Higher Heavens by God's hand here. God's will is that Uriel is no longer among the Archangels of the Lower Heavens."

Daimonique . o O ( Demon of Eli? )

Chephirah folds a protective wing around Daimonique. "The transfer disk is just outside."

Daimonique nods. "Let's get out of here while the going is good."

Daimonique . o O ( DEMON of Eli? )

Jordan asks, over his shoulder, "Do you two think you can keep him under control while you get him back? Or do you need a restraint collar?"

Mazpatiel says "You lie, Serpent. You who sat with me at the hand of Purity, you lie and realize it not. I pray for your awakening, and I pray for your soul."

Jordan says gently, "That was not I, Virtue, but one who fulfilled my role in your Heaven."

Mazpatiel says "There is only one Heaven. This place is a falsehood."

Jordan's head is just spinning, mind you...

Daimonique says "We're going to need some sort of restraint."

Jordan says, "I would not have believed there was more than one Heaven had not my resonance just told me the Truth of it."

Jordan nods to one of the other angels, and murmurs, "A restraint collar and controller, to this Daimonique."

One of the Malakim nods, and wings off through a side door. The two others raise Mazpatiel to his feet, his hands still cuffed behind him.

<> Daimonique says "Oooh Bondage Pat."

<> Demiurge says "Bondage Malakite Pat."

<> Mazpatiel says "Oh man. Don't give Daimon my remote control, I'll be doing the macarena within an hour."

<> Jordan gives it to the Cherub.

Mazpatiel says "Your being has become lies, Jordan."

<> Jordan knows better than to give it to the GodHacker kid.

<> Daimonique giggles. "I'm a goofball in all universes."

Jordan shakes his head. "You are willfully blind, Virtue. You are lucky your kind cannot Fall."

Mazpatiel says "Indeed. I could not bear to be with you in your Pit."

The Malakite returns, with a neat silver collar, twisted round with electronics, and a small hand-held control with some buttons on it.

The Malakite says, "Who is to have the controller, Most Holy?"

Jordan sighs. "Perhaps when you are back in your... Heaven... you will be able to understand, or find the Truth from the Seraphim you trust. I will pray for you." He moves aside so that the other Malakite can put the collar on Mazpatiel. "The Cherub, Virtue."

Daimonique looks momentarily sad.

The Malakite clips the collar round Mazpatiel's neck, and it clicks shut. He then pads across to hand the small device to Chephirah.

Chephirah studies it. "How do I use this, Most Holy?"

Daimonique eyes that device, mind percolating with various sundry and goofy ideas.

Jordan says, "You access online help through your interfa... er. Right." He indicates buttons with little designs on them. "This unlocks the collar. This has a brief shock. This has an incapacitating shock."

Chephirah keeps a firm grip on the device. She looks unhappy with the whole idea, however. "Thank you, Most Holy."

Daimonique says "Woah. Remote control vibrating action!"

Mazpatiel looks distinctly unpleased.

Daimonique thinks of getting one of these back home.

Jordan points to a fourth button. "You must supply the Essence, but this one will impose Ethereal Harmony upon him."

Mazpatiel says "I will be at the vanguard of vengeance, Jordan. Remember this. When my brothers flock to this place for its purification, you will remember that you thought to escape from God."

One of the Malakim standing near Daimonique has a lightsaber at his belt. It's hanging temptingly loose, clearly jarred out of position by the fight with Mazpatiel.

Jordan turns his head. "If you and your brothers flock here, Virtue, I will certainly re-examine my position."

Daimonique finds this funny, considering that Mazpatiel is saying this with his head coated with candied caramel.

Daimonique ooohs. Lightsaber.

Jordan gives Mazpatiel the respect due him. Despite the caramel.

Daimonique tries a minor "lift" of the object.

<> Mazpatiel says "Of course, I can see a horde of Malakim going after Pat and storming this place. :)"

<> Daimonique says "I am the MOST morally bankrupt angel. :)"

<> Demiurge says "Try a roll, Daimonique."

<> Daimonique rolls the d666 and gets 6 6 CHECK: 3.

<> Jordan will re-examine his position. He may not *change* his mind, but he'll think about the problem!

The Malakite turns, and just _looks_ at Daimonique as the Lilim's fingers close around the lightsaber hilt.

Daimonique tries to look innocent.

Jordan slithers over to Dai. "Ahem?"

Daimonique is still looking guiltily innocent.

Jordan sing-songs, "Daaaaiiiimonique. Are you working for Janus in your Heaven?"

Daimonique says "Nope. I've never met Janus."

Chephirah just sighs.

Jordan sighs. "Dai, hold out your hands a moment, 'kay?"

Daimonique says "It just looked cool, that's all, and you know me, I'm a little loose with personal property."

Daimonique holds out her hands.

The Malakite looks grimly approving, as though planning to cut them off at the wrists.

Jordan raises his tailtip and quickly slaps Daimon across the wrists with it.

Daimonique says "OW!"

Jordan asks, "Okay, now, are you going to need to defend yourself with one of the Heavenswords?"

<> Jordan is Judgment!

<> Jordan will slap wrong-doers on the wrists when they deserve it!

<> Daimonique gets spanked. Foo.

Daimonique says "I don't know."

Jordan looks to Chephirah. "Should we issue Heavenswords to you two?"

Chephirah says, "We cannot be sure how many worlds we will have to go through to reach our own, Most Holy."

Jordan . o O (Cherubim are usually sensible.)

Chephirah looks dubious. "I am not gifted in using a Sword, Most Holy, and I do not think that Daimon has ever used one."

<> Demiurge | Mazpatiel bounces up and down. "Give me one!"

<> Mazpatiel says "hee."

<> Mazpatiel is just planning his escape

Jordan eyes Dai. "Give me one good reason, and I'll issue you one of the Swords of the Light of Heaven. Otherwise, no swiping them."

Daimonique says "We might run into more really nasty bad guys who want to do us in. We were in this John Woo universe were people were shooting each other with guns and people were getting splattered."

Jordan quirks an eyebrow. "How about a taser, then?"

Daimonique says "That zaps people into unconsciousness, right?"

Jordan nods.

Daimonique says "That sounds like a good thing to have."

Jordan nods. He turns to one of the other angels. "Two tasers for these angels, please. We will meet you outside."

One of the Cherubim nods, and leaves. The other Burly Angels start escorting Mazpatiel outside.

Jordan escorts the pair of Sliders out as well.

Chephirah stays close to Daimonique, keeping *firm* hold of the Control Device.

Outside, the disk still swirls, faint and imperceptible.

Daimonique gets escorted. Another world filled with pleasing cognitive dissonance.

Jordan asks Daimonique, "Okay, in your Heaven, are you still Judgment GodHacker, or are you one of Jean's?"

Daimonique says "Um, well.... in my Heaven, I do WORK for Judgment, but it's a temporary assignment."

Daimonique says "You'd never know though."

Daimonique says "Very covert Judgment. As I have none."

Jordan rippleblinks. "Temporary?"

Daimonique nods. "It's temporary, until I work off my geasa."

Jordan rippleblinks again. "Didn't your Mother sell the Geasa to Dominic?"

Daimonique says "She did, but when they're gone, they're gone."

Jordan says, "Well, that's roughly the same thing *our* Dai is doing. Except she's a Lilim of Judgment and it's not a temporary thing..."

Daimonique says "I think, for me, it's temporary. I'm too much of a goofball."

The Cherub reappears, carrying two bracelets: silvery bands an inch wide, with a glowing pale faceted stone set into them that glimmers with lightning.

Jordan thinks. "Lilim of Nybbas, then?"

Daimonique says "No way. My sister, Malik, like to work for Nybbas. And you know, Terry is Terry. But I never got around to it. I was working... elsewhere when working for Nybbas became popular."

<> Mazpatiel says "Let me kill him, Daimon."

Daimonique says "And he's a Demon Prince, you know."

Jordan eyes Dai. "Nybbas is the Archangel of the Media, Dai."

<> Mazpatiel says "He thinks you're Media. Let me kill him."

<> Demiurge says "Stop tempting, Mazpatiel. Wrong Choir."

Daimonique says "Not where I come from. He's a Demon Prince."

<> Daimonique zaps Pat from the device!

<> Mazpatiel bzzzzzzzz

<> Mazpatiel says "C'mon, push the button that says 'Release homicidal Malakite'."

<> Daimonique pushes the button that says "Make homicidal Malakite nice."

Jordan shudders. "I'm glad I don't have to live in your universe." He takes the bracelets from the Cherub and passes them to Dai and Chephirah. "You wear these, and invoke them, and they zap the problem."

Daimonique takes a bracelet. "It's not a bad universe. It has it's good points."

Chephirah fastens the Lens ... er, bracelet around her wrist.

Jordan shivers. "I would not want to be around where Nybbas could have Fallen."

Daimonique says "FALLEN? He was born in Hell."

Jordan rippleblinks. "He was created in Heaven. He rose to his stature with the invention of the Printing Press."

Jordan eyes Dai. "Next you'll be saying your Vapula is Fallen and your Eli redeemed!"

Daimonique says "Eli never Fell. And Vapula was also born in Hell."

Chephirah's tail-tip twitches.

Mazpatiel broods.

Mazpatiel plots vengeance aplenty.

Daimonique looks at her brightly colored tie, her black suit.... "Jordan, I'm a Creationer. Who else could be such a basketcase?"

Mazpatiel . o O ( One day, they will pay. )

Chephirah touches Mazpatiel's hand with a wingtip.

Jordan rubs his forehead. "However could we function without the Archangel of Technology? No, nevermind. This report is going to be *so* troubling to make to the Most Just..." He flips a wing. "All right, you've got your tasers, you've got your Malakite loon. You should probably get him back to his home where maybe some of *his* Seraphim can talk sense into him." He pauses.

Mazpatiel snarls at Chephirah.

Jordan says "CREATIONER?"

Daimonique starts back a bit. "Yeah. I, um, write. And play guitar. And generally be a public nuisance."

Jordan _eyes_ Dai. "But, but, but how could he have not Fallen with the rest of the Irresponsible Ones?"

Daimonique says a bit peevishly, "Just because he's Irresponsible doesn't mean he isn't Good, Jordan."

Mazpatiel says "Hah."

Daimonique says "_I'M_ irresponsible, too."

Jordan says, "In this place, Daimonique, he is most definitely not Good."

Chephirah says to Mazpatiel, "Please, dear."

Daimonique yucks. "Well, at least he and Kobal can make something cooler then Godzilla-blobs."

Jordan adds, "Leather wings, little horns, black halo. Common signs of not being Good."

Jordan sighs. "Dai, I think you need to go home."

Mazpatiel says "If I were not bound, this place would be aflame by now."

Daimonique says "I've seen the little horns and the leather wings, and.... I'm just getting sniffly. I _know_ Eli is good."

Chephirah says to Mazpatiel, "Which would be no more appropriate than rebuking you for not being a Seraph."

<> Daimonique says "Can I keep the Malakite, Mommy? Please?"

Jordan says, "The Eli you know may be good, but the one here is not. Now, off with you, and maybe we can get *our* Dai back, who needs to go fix her routers."

<> Chephirah says "MY Malakite!"

Mazpatiel says "If they will not purify themselves, then the flame will do it for them."

Chephirah says, "If you say so, dear. Come along, and we'll see if we can't get you back home."

Daimonique says "One trick pony, isn't he?"

Jordan adds, "And get him home before some Gabrielites find him. They're touchy."

Chephirah pauses, and murmurs, "Oh. Oh dear."

Daimonique says "Eddie."

Jordan shoos folk to the disk, gently.

Mazpatiel glares at Daimonique. "You would understand, if only you would purify yourself to a single, narrow purpose, instead of wasting your existence with fancies and whim."

Daimonique says "I happen to like fancies and whim."

Chephirah replies to Daimonique, "Let's not think about that, really," and gathers Mazpatiel - snarling or not - in one wing, nudging him toward the disk.

The disk whirls patiently.

Chephirah says "Perhaps those are his purpose, Mazpatiel."

Mazpatiel says "They are disordered and impure."

Daimonique says "That's me to a T."

Daimonique turns, grabs Jordan, CUDDLES him, gives him a smoochie on the nose, and then turns back toward the disk.

Mazpatiel says "And you take pride in it, without even realizing the depths you wallow in!"

Chephirah can't help it; her ears twitch forward.

Jordan makes cybernetic notes on his e-pad. Tsayadim who are this loony should not be allowed in Heaven.

Jordan eeps! He was cuddled!

Jordan fans his wings in confusion!

Daimonique says "I wallow in some pretty deep depths, lemme tell you!"

Jordan tilts his head at a ninety degree angle and boggles at Dai.

Daimonique steps through the portal.

Jordan . o O (Does this mean I get her Jolt?)

<> Chephirah howls.

And, for Daimonique, the world changes...

<> Daimonique says "We are just a bunch of GOOFBALLS."

Chephirah half-tugs, half-pushes Mazpatiel through as well.

Mazpatiel resists the entire way, but is eventually pushed through the portal.

And the world changes...

---

Fiat Justitia