Teknophage: Demon's Reign 7B

(Act 2)

At the elevator, Ayami came out of it before noticing a worker yelping, noticing the big fork inside the vat.

Ayami: Oh dear, I think he needs help.

To her notice, she saw a Bootman arriving to the man hanging on.

Bootman: (pointing) You! That utensil is the Property of Phage Industries. Retrieve it!

Man: (gulps) R-Right you are, Cap'n.

He dug into the vat as he screamed loudly, then when he pulled it back up with the utensil, Ayami screamed at the skeletal arm.

Ayami: (panics) AHHHH!!

Man: AAAUUHHH GAWD! Me bloody arm!

Bootman: Now, get back to work and be more careful in the future.

Ayami: (worried) That's it!? That's all you have to tell them? What about human rights?

Bootman: Those rights never existed here, miss. And you should get back. Mister Phage may be wondering where you are, lass.

Ayami: Um, I can handle it. I was just exploring the place a little before Mr. Phage calls me.

All while she noticed Bennett being dragged by the other two Bootmen down below.

Bennett: Please...tell Mister Phage it wasn't my fault! Not MY fault!

Random Bootman: You can tell him yourself, soon enough.

Later, the girl glanced at a few people cleaning up blood stains on the building sides, much to her disgust.

Old Man: Counter!

Young Man: Ledger!

Old Man: Counter!

Young Man: Ledger!

Old Man: I'm tellin' you. It'll be a 'counter. Mark my words.

Young Man: Ledger.

Then, the two noticed a Bootman arriving before the old man spoke to him.

Old Man: (quietly) Two cups'a koffup sez you're wrong.

At the office, people were continuing their busy schedule.

Young Man's Voice: You're on, then. Word is, they just too on a new batch of raw material from downstair. I'll bet them ledgers is goin' bonkers tryin' to keep up.

With Ayami, she looked at the worker using binoculars.

Ayami: So what's going on?

Man: Incoming! Blimey, it's a top floor job!

Random Person: Strewth! Heads up, lads!

Everyone quickly dodged as a headless body splattered onto the area. When they got up, Ayami gulped, then quickly left.

Ayami: Um, I'll see Henry now.

Old Man: (notices) Awww...look at that, would yer? S'just a blinkin vat manager.

Young Man: Huh, ain't seen one of them fer a while.

At the Phage's office, a silhouette of a head was tossed to the ground while the Phage, looking at his blood-filled fingers, licked the blood fora  moment before grinning.

Phage: Apology accepted. He-he-he-he.

Then, he noticed Ayami quickly arriving as she panted.

Ayami: (exhausted) Um...I just came through the elevator, rush hour one, then had to see what happened.

Phage: Ayami, you're just in time. I was wondering if you like to join me in a little room where I keep one of the most precious of things behind from other eyes...

Meanwhile, in the streets, a red cloaked figure walked around the place while the hooded one looked at the poor person.

Person: ...my undying love, oh, Phage...there is no other god...what is mine is yours...without you, I am nothing...

As the person continued, the figure looked at many miserable people around the fire, then at the building before he left.

Person: ...my undying love, oh, Phage...there is no other god...what is mine is yours...without you, I am nothing...

He then looked at a young African child before speaking.

Figure: Where's your sister?

The girl pointed into the house.

Girl: Inna house.

Figure: (grins) Don't worry, child. She's been expecting me. Here...

He then gave an orange to her before she took it, with him making the hush symbol.

Figure: Just between us, okay?

Girl: (grins) 'Kay.

With that, she left while another figure, a female, frowned.

Female: Too late, I saw.

Figure: (shocked) Claire-

Claire: (glares) Don't "Claire" me, you idiot. That was a stupid, stupid thing to do.

The figure began following Claire to the house.

Figure: I didn't think it would hurt-

Claire: You didn't think at all. HE'S right on top of us, in case you hadn't noticed. Why don't you just put a big fiery sign while you're at it, Hmmm? "Here we are, lizard! Come and get us!"

Figure: Claire!

Claire: After all the progress we've made here, you think you can waltz in and single-handedly jeopardize my entire mission-

As he spoke next, the door slammed closed as he frowned.

Figure: Claire, please! It was a small shaft of light in an otherwise bleak day...for her AND for me. I can't just ignore what's going on out there, Claire. I can't just forget who we are...

She paused before sighing.

Claire: You're right, I'm sorry...it's just-

Figure: I know. Come on, I don't have as much time as I'd like today...

Claire: There's less and less of it nowadays, Steven. Too much happening at once, now that he's back.

Unknown to either of them, the camera panned around where the figures were before they began disrobing of the cloaks.

Claire: We hardly seem to be together anymore.

Steven: It'll change. I promise. We just have to weather the storm for a while longer.

Claire: I reall AM sorry. What you did outside was a good example, not a crime.

Finally, the robes were off, revealing them to be a friar and nun.

Claire: A blessing upon you, Brother Steven.

Steven: And upon you, Sister Claire.

The door prepare to open up slightly.

Claire: (concerned) So what is it you were so excited about when you contacted us, brother? Good news, I trust?

Steven: (sighs) I cannot say, Claire. Only the Good Lord knows for sure. Our friends in the building sent word down this morning...it concerns the one we've all been searching for. He's up there...INSIDE the building.

When they entered, many people from different Earthly religions were gathered around as the people noticed with a Rabbi grinning.

Rabbi: Brother, sister, welcome!

With Ayami, she gulped, looking at the dark place she was at. She then turned to the Phage as he spoke to the Bootman nearby.

Phage: Open the door. (glances) Follow me, you two.

Bootman: To the ends of all Kalighoul, my lord.

She looked at the door marked "Abandon Hope" before it opened up. Then, the three entered the strange place.

Voice: Some say th' alchemy furnace is where th' world comes to an end. Others say it ends in th' black heart of th' Phage. But there's one place darker than both of 'em, if y'asks me...the Asylum.

Ayami looked worried as she saw a man with many weights tied on himself trying to reach for the knife, wincing a bit.

Voice: Ain't too many people knows about the asylum. Ain't too many wants to know. In there, a feller may only WISH that 'is soul had been lost in the inferno. For the asylum is truly the end WITHOUT an end.

The girl became more concerned as she shivered a bit as she saw bandaged heads in watery tubes, people screaming, and someone strapped into a strange electric-type chair.

Voice: Word is, th' Phage uses this place t' understand what drives a man over the edge. The asylum's a playground...it's where the old man gets 'is inspiration for driving th' machine.

She gulped, preparing to hold his arm, though hesitated a bit before noticing the girl looking at the long tail secretly wrapped around her hand, feeling a little better.

Voice: They say a feller can lose all track of time an' space in there. That's 'is senses can be removed, but never th' terror from 'is heart. Maybe it's the terror what keeps a feller from becomin' something else entirely.

Finally, they arrived to a door marked, "Warning: Do not enter by order of H. Phage".

Ayami: My gosh...

Phage: (to the Bootman) That's far enough. Get back to your station. I...

He looked back at Ayami as she gulped, hearing screams and pleas for help.

Phage: Ahem, uh, "we" wish to be alone with this one...and undisturbed.

The soldier marched away from the two with Ayami looking concerned at the door.

Voice: Right down at the bottom of Hell, in the very heart of the asylum, that's where the secrets been waitin' these past 60 years. Somewhere in there is a man who hasn't the sense t' be scared.

He then looked at Ayami seriously.

Phage: Ayami, I must warn you now...what you are about to see...you must never tell.

Ayami: Um, okay...

Back at Earth, Jason looked annoyed, sighing as he looked worried.

Jason: What is taking everyone so long?

Then, Max came in with excitement.

Max: Hey, Jason! I got great news!

Jason: (grins) You got the farm back?

Max: Better: It turns out Sam and I have a radar device for tracking and watching intergalactic and dimensional places.

Sam arrived with a strange TV with wires hooked up.

Sam: And best of all, both Geek and Bosco made this.

Jason: Huh? Who's Bosco?

Sam: Uh oh, better make it quick soon. Otherwise, even we won't remember Boscoe.

Max: I dunno, I kinda like Boscoe as a fading cow.

The TV was turned on as they saw both Ayami and the Phage, whom held her, opening the door together.

Voice: 10 ft tall 'e is, with arms like turbine pistons. Hair of flamming gold, and eyes that bore through your soul...if your soul still belonged t' you, that is. Of this man, they say even th' Phage is deathly afraid.

When it opened completely, Ayami gasped in shock.

Ayami: My gosh!

Phage: (smirks) Well, well, still here, I see. I trust the accomondations have been to your satisfaction?

As the girl was stunned, the figure, an old Hindu man, grinned softly.

Old Man: All the more adequate now that you...graciously bestow upon me the pleasure of your esteemed company, my friends. A blessing upon you and your house...

Back in Earth, the trio looked surprised.

Max: Sam?

Sam: Yes, Max?

Max: Can I get a dungeon like that when we get back on track?

Jason: What!?

Sam: You crack me up, little buddy.

Back in Kalighoul, the girl was surprised as she spoke.

Ayami: He's...a Hindu!?

(ED: Zetsubou Billy by Maximum the Hormone)

Phage's Voice: Greetings, this is the Teknophage. On the next Teknophage: Demon's Reign, as the meeting of religions progress, the old man and I battled on wits to give out the differences on lessons of sorts. All while I tell my tale on how I became the serpent in the Garden with a "little" help by a powerful devil on Earth. But why is Ayami struggling so hard on the beliefs? Next Teknophage: Demon's Reign: Soultrain. Watch if you dare...