Let Them Think What They Want(Closed)

[Tenshi the Sunkern]

Away from the main greeting area of the UCA, away from most of those who were off doing whatever they so desired, Persephone slammed the door to her Hub room shut with a loud bang. She wasn't in the mood for anyof this. Not in the mood for ridicule, not in the mood for jokes, not in the mood for any of this BS that had plagued her the last few days. First loosing in the opening round of the Tag Team to a bunch of bears. then what just happened outside. It was all complete garabge!

Atleast, that was what Tenshi was sure Persephone was thinking. The Celestial was seated on Persy's own bed, filing her nails down. They had gotten a bit long in her stay here, and there really wasn't a better time for filing than now. "Talk about having a bad day." Tenshi said to Persephone as she locked the door. "Complete humiliation from everyone you've met recently. I actually am starting to feel sorry for you... though it was your idea to go parading us around like that, so it's your fault."

"Oh, I know it's my fault." Persephone said as she turned to face Tenshi. To the Celestial's surprise, the anger and rage that had been there earlier were gone now, and in their place, was a humble, yet at the same time smug look that was crossing Persephone's face, two things that seemed completely opposite of one another. "I intend for it to be like that. Let them think what they want of me. It only helps serve as a curtain for me to do as I wish."

"Huh? I don't think I follow you on that. I thought you were pissed off mad just a few hours ago."

"Yes... or that is how I made myself look." Persephone said as she walked away from the door. She took a seat besides Tenshi, and looked her in the eye, one hand caressing her cheek. "You see, what I am doing is painting an image of myself for those who don't know better, an image of a brash, incompetent girl whose got her head up in the clouds, and can easily be floored by a mere tug of the rug. That leads to them underestimating me, thinking of me as a non-factor, as a mere nuisance, and nothing more. Do you see where I am getting at?"

Tenshi didn't respond verbally. She had to admit, she was seeing the logic in what Persephone was saying. A treat no one took seriously could very well be a dangerous threat. She knew all too well at how someone mocked and ridiculed could turn into an invisible threat that could very easily destroy a group from within, or be a third party and blindside them in a vulnerable moment. Such was the nature of warfare, and of never underestimating your foes.

On the other side, was making yourself too well known to be dangerous. If everyone and their grandmother knew of how dangerous you truly were, then they would put all their resources into stopping you, no matter the cost. It was always better to error on the side of looking like an incompetent foe, than to make yourself seem far more terrifying and powerful than you truly were, especially when you had so many enemies willing to align themselves when the time came for such. "So you mean... the entire Tag Team fight was also-"

"No." Persephone stopped her before she could even finish. "I really did loose my cool there, and it was then that I realized what I was doing. I had strayed so far from what I had once been, lost myself so many times in anger and rage, failed so miserably, that everyone saw me as a failure, both here, and those watching back in Hell. The image I had set to pave for myself, that of a perfect leader who never lost their temper... irredeemably shattered by that point. That was when I decided to go down this route, Tenshi. Let the peasants think they know the real me, that of a hair-trigger queen of failure. Let them think they know everything they can about me, that they can predict what I am going to do. Aside from Crigan and maybe the Ophorus and Yama, they are all blinded by the mask I have painted. So while they go and deal with what they view as more dangerous threats, I can do what I want, and no one would know any better."

"I see." Tenshi replied. "So what exactly do you have planned? Might it by chance include that Kadru figure and Fainis?"

"In a matter of speaking, yes. If I... no, if WE win against them, then I can shove it in their faces how they lost to a mere 'pair of jesters and fools', and it would only be more glorious since Fainis, the UCA Champion, fell before our wrath. If THEY win, that only reinforces their view they have of us, and we can operate behind the scenes, until I am ready with a special little gift I have planned for those here."

"And what might this plan be?"

"You'll find out soon enough, Tenshi. But more pressing at the moment..." Persephone took her hand off of Tenshi's cheek, and she shifted her gaze toward the TV that was playing. "I could have sworn I told her and the others to stay down in Hell while I was away... so why is she here?"

Tenshi turned to look as well. Onscreen, she could see Kedos fighting what looked to be a gigantic draconic sea creature, and the sea monster was winning. Kedos was pinned, and it seemed there was little hope for him. "You know that oversized sushi roll?" Tenshi asked, an eyebrow raised. Why the hell would Persephone know a creature like that? Seemed a little barbaric, and a bit too ironic to be a close acquaintance of someone who called themselves the Ruler of Hell... but then, she only had to look at Persy's attire and herself to see the irony in that statement.

"That would be Charybdis, one of my Elite Guard. She's supposed to be stationed back down by the Palace and not to come here unless given an override command. Her presence means that someone is concerned for my safety all of a sudden, a certain someone I haven't spoken to in a while." She walked over to the computer she had in her room, and turned it on. All she got was static and a blue screen. "And of course, someone doesn't have their end of the communications network on. So she must be busy herself..."

"That would be your mother, right?"

Persephone whirled around, and jabbed a finger into Tenshi's chest. "Of course. Who else would I be referring to, Tenshi? If what you speak is the truth of my backstory, then I doubt there's any other surviving Celestials I can call. Might as well go check up and see how project Devil Machine is going." Persephone took her finger away and went back over to the computer, tinkering with the systems it had so she could connect with the Underworld.

"Project... Devil Machine? Not sure if that's cliche'd or just stu-" A risen hand silenced her, and the computer screen flickered. A hologram was projected from it, and before Persephone was a hooded figure, one with long, jagged claws reaching out from under the cloak they wore, and though the hooded being was facing her, neither she or Tenshi could see any eyes in the being.

"Laeptus, what is your status on both projects?"

The hooded figure, Leaptus, shifted its gaze from Persephone over to Tenshi. "Who is this person with you? Is she an ally, or a prisoner of war?" The figure growled, its voice scratchy and deep.

Tenshi, realizing she was the subject at hand, stood up and bowed. "I'm just a friend of your master Persephone. She invited me in to share in what knowledge you might have for us, as well as your status on the Devil Machine. Persephone didn't bring me up to speed on what nature the Devil Machine is, so I'd like to know." Though she had no idea what she was talking about, it was better if she came out somewhat clean on it. She had a feeling the cloaked figure was not someone she wanted to mess with, a rare feeling for the Celestial to have.

"Exactly. Please indulge her in your endeavors, and tell us how progress is going." Persephone asked, a glint in her eyes...

[Tenshi the Sunkern]

"Progress is coming at a steady rate for the Devil Machine. The Agronium required for construct it has already been gathered and is under quarantine until we are sure it is not infected. Data protocols are on standby to be installed once the data storage has been completed. Predicted time of completion will be in 21 days, 5 hours, and 13 minutes, Lord Persephone."

"Excellent news." Persephone hissed as she looked at the hologram. "I know that with the Ophorus attacks over, and Vintage assaults at an all time low, you have been able to continue your scientific endeavors in my absence." Here, she looked over at Tenshi, and the Celestial merely nodded, indicating that she was indeed following along. "And what of the other project?"

"If you are referring to Project Titan, then yes I am nearing completion on that as well. The imp team I have might not be the best, but we have ensured that the required compound has been secured, and is being implemented. You called just as I was preparing the final adjustments to the patient."

"Very well. And how is the patient at the moment?"

"He is taking to the compound far better than hypothesized." Laeptus coldly replied. "So far, muscular and skeletal increase has been by 40%, and cerebral mass has increased by 35%. These figures are beyond what we hypothesized, and it defies all logic."

"Logic will come later, Leaptus. It is great to hear that both projects are coming along very well." Persephone turned to Tenshi, who had been paying attention, but seemed at a loss as to what exactly they were speaking of. "Are you keeping up with us so far, Tenshi?"

The Celestial nodded. "Yes I am, though I do have one question... What is the Devil Machine? I can guess that Project Titan is to make a sort of super soldier..."

"That is a most logical assumption to make, and a correct one at that." Leptus replied, its hologram wavering somewhat. "The compound being utilized is a special mixture of bloods and raw Nether, Nether is the material that our very Underworld is build upon and made of, while the blood comes from two sources of near mythical power. The first is from our dear Charybdis, who is-"

"We both know." Persephone cut her off. "She is here, and while I am curious as to why she came here without letting me know, I feel that could wait for another time. I assume Proteus is with her here?"

"Correct. Your mother felt it was necessary to send them both there for your safe being. the situation there in the arena has taken a turn she has felt is most detrimental to your survival. I myself was not told the specifics, but I recommend you exercise caution from here on out."

"That will be noted. Now, please resume your discussion on the Devil Machine and Project Titan for our esteemed guest, and soon to be military commander of our forces." Persephone brushed the topic aside. Concerned for HER safety? PFFFT. As if this place filled with monsters and fellow Hell Rulers wasn't already dangerous enough. Well... she had no right to complain. If her mother was sending aid, then it probably was needed.

"Wait... I am your new military commander?" Tenshi parroted, confused and taken aback. "Shouldn't you like... test me first before shoving me into that position?"

"That is what this will be, as well as seeing just how true your claims of my past are. If you can keep up with what I require, and help us advance our goals, then I
will believe you. If not, then there's no way you were ever a friend of mine. Simple, and easy to understand?"

"of course." Tenshi said, before mentally laughing. Oh, how the tables had turned since their days back at the Celestial City. "Um... as you were saying, Laeptus?"

"We combined the raw untampered energy of Nether with the blood of two of the most powerful creatures ever seen in the Underworld. One of them is from our dear Charybdis, herself a replacement figure for the goddess of the sea, and the other from Leviathan, the nightmare that destroyed Old Hell. The resulting compound, created after long nights of bioengineering and chemistry, has been perfected, and is now being used on a prototype test, before we can gauge if it is applicable and safe for use on the rest of Lord Persephone's forces."

"That does seem to be a smart move." Tenshi noted to herself. Just giving someone a steroid injection or drugs and sending them off to the front lines could have dire results if it had negative influences. Better to test it and isolate such things and erase them to ensure that the next batch fixed on those issues. Now she was sorta proud she had come ontop in chemistry class and military ethics.

"Might I make a suggestion, Laeptus?" Persephone asked. "When will you be finished with Project Titan?"

"Within one day of our time. If you were to have a fight and end it, the subject would already be there for you to test."

"Good, so we are on the same mental page, then." Persephone said as she walked around the hologram, one hand behind her back. "You see, I know that we have done previous trials and whatnot with the Holy Knights, but I feel that this time, doing it in a more controlled environment, and with more easily accessible schematics and recordable data would prove to be a wiser course of action. Wouldn't you agree, Laeptus? I am sure you would enjoy the replays, and even being able to study the other fighters here."

"Your reasoning is logical. The prospects of running a trial in the UCA are quite promising." Here, Laeptus took a step forward, and cleared its throat. "Also, I feel I must mention that during the recent attack launched by Vintage, Minos nearly lost her life. We currently have her in the medical bay, and her vitals are steady, but we are uncertain if she will recover from her wounds."

"Minos? Who might that be?" Tenshi asked. "Another of your guard buddies?"

"More than that." Persephone glared over at her, a rising edge in anger in her voice. "She is my most loyal follower, obedient to my very cause, and always there when I need her. It does pain me to hear that she almost died while I wasn't there. Is she expected to recover?"

Lapetus shook its head, an ill omen that only set Persephone's mood even worse. "All we can do at the moment is comfort her as she is on life support. Though we can also apply the compound to her and see if she takes to it. It would heal her, but we don't know what other effects will come of it."

Persephone closed her eyes. "This pains me. Loose one of my oldest and most faithful followers and friends, or risk them turning into an abomination?" She growled. "I will speak to you later, Laeptus. We thank you for your report, and I expect to hear from you very soon. Report back once Project Titan is done. When I see the results for myself, then I will gauge if it will be best to subject Minos to the serum as well."

"Understood, Lord Persephone." With that, the hologram flickered off, and Persephone walked over to the teleportation node.

"And where do you think you are going, Persy? off to grab a snack or some nachos?"

That comment was met with powerful hands grabbing her throat. Tenshi's eyes bulged as she was lifted off her feet, the cold chill from Persephone's hands slowly freezing across her skin. "I am in a very bad mood right now, and I would prefer to let off some steam on someone that isn't you. So unless you wish to have your face frozen and shattered across the hallway, you will stay here and ensure no one gets into my room while I go beat someone up, understand?"

When there was no reply, Persephone threw Tenshi onto the bed, then let herself be warped away, leaving the stunned Celestial feeling the frozen patch of skin left on her neck. "That pain actually... felt sorta nice." She said...