“Should I mess with his toy while he’s occupied in our “meeting”?” Gears asked Virus. Noting just how vulnerable Mariel looked.

Virus stops and grins “yes. .” He told gears. Walking with pep in his step. Gears smirked at his approval, moving to follow as he continued walking once more. Gears looped the camera in Mariel’s cell, careful to be sure no one saw what he was up to.

The light in the cell would flicker for a moment before a rain of minuscule silvery nanites began to pour from the light fixture, swarming Mariel. The celestial remain still at first, but when the nanites began to swarm around him it was no longer able to be ignored. The golden glow of his eyes cracked open as he peered out with a scowl and shifted slightly upwards into an awkward sitting position leaning to the side against the wall of the cell. “What the ||fuck|| is this, then?” Clearly the amount of begging that he had recently done had not broken his spirit very much, he was still as caddy and cantankerous as ever. His wings drew up around himself, acting as a defensive extension since his arms were not available for him to use. And walk it fashion and then he’s choosing to drive it.

The mass of nanites gathered to Mariel, trying to burrow into his healing wounds, his orifices, trying to find any way into the angel’s body. Crawling into his feathers like annoying mites. The swarm gradually growing larger as more continued to rain from the light in a metallic shower. There was a tiny stare down, Angel versus nanite. Who would blink first? It wasn’t until they touched him that he actually gave a look of revulsion and tried to shake them off, only to realize that his movements were having little effect. In fact, any movement he did served to reopen the half-heeled wounds that he’d already managed to close. The raking claw wounds on his thighs and back still seeped golden blood and provided access points, but as the microscopic shower hit his wings the feathers immediately begin to shake and flap in a desperate attempt to get rid of whatever was touching the pristine feathers. The nanites quickly abandoned the wings, moving to better entry points as more wounds were reopened by Mariel’s struggling.

As they began to infiltrate his body Mariel would hear the sound of Gears laugher, malicious and sharp as it was transmitted by the nanomachines.

“How unfortunate. Azazel should never have left his toy unattended.” Gears said to the angel in an amused tone.

Mariel still when he heard that laughter, his eyes narrowing. “If you are trying to intimidate me you shall need to drive far harder than that, worm.” His voice was deathly cold, the energy that had been expended into trying to heal himself now shifting into conservation mode as he let his gaze roam the room, trying to figure out where the voice was coming from. It seem to be coming from everywhere all at once, unable to be placed.. he clearly hadn’t processed that it was coming from inside of him yet. “And which toilet is it that you scrub, little one? You’re clearly some petty creature looking for revenge.”

At the remark Gears laughed again, “Indimidate you? No. Ruin you, yes.”

The swarm gradually slimmed as the miniscule machines worked their way into him.

“Well, you’re correct on the revenge part at least.” Gears said with amusement. “Azazel threatened what is ours, and it’s going to cost him his toy.”

“Maybe I should have my swarm break down those cuffs and collar after I mess you up a bit? Let you take all that anger out on him next time he visits you in your cell.” He mused, “For now you could say I’m just getting into position.” Gears chuckled.

“if you think that I can be ruined by a sentient patch of haze, you clearly have no idea what you’re dealing with,” the celestial scoffed though he did give pause at the strange sensation that was tingling at the edge of his periphery. It was obviously had no idea what the nanites were, and assumed it was just some glittering cloud of.. something hovering around him. Now, however, with the machines infiltrating his bloodstream, there was something that was not right so he couldn’t quite put a finger on it. “I am not something to be ruined by the likes of you.”

Gears chuckled at his words. “Maybe not. But wouldn’t you like revenge on that goat eyed demon as well?”

“Soon my swarm will all be nicely hidden inside you, and hell have no idea.” Gears said, entertained by the angels spirited remarks.

“Oh? I could make it worth your while… he’s never going to let you go after all. He’s probably going to mount those lovely wings of yours as a trophy on his office wall.” Gears attempted to tempt him.

“I don’t require your assistance to an act for revenge on that demonic insect,” he replied with a scoff, but that last statement definitely gave him pause. There had been an uncomfortable amount of discussion about the presentability of his wings in that elevator ride, something that seemed to be the only thing to really shoot a pang of terror down his spine.

“If you insist on treating me like a fool, you will receive only disdain in return,” the angel stated flatly. “I have no idea what you’re talking about with this swarm business, but do not insult me. I am not stupid enough to think that any of this would be ‘worth my while.’ Your type like to use lines like that, to give hope. I am a Messenger. I -AM- hope. Offer me revenge for the pain, and perhaps we will talk. I am not so stupid to think that we are allies or that anything you do for me will come out in my favor.”

“You sure about that? Looks like he has you right where he wants you between the collar and cuffs and that thing he put on your cock.” Gears said doubtfully.

“My swarm are the tiny machines infiltrating your body as we speak.” Gears elaborated, considering the angel’s words.

“Very well. I am Gears. One of the experiments made in this location. The demon that accosted you is a problem for myself and my allies. If you would like revenge for the pain, I would consider assisting you.” Gears said. Taking Azazel’s toy from him would do.

Machines infiltrating his body? He looked down at the hallmarks on his thigh that shimmered just a bit more than they really should have. Well that made his stomach absolutely turn a flip. He looked very much as though he were about to vomit, though thankfully that wasn’t really an option for him. “W-Well…” He said as he tried to gather his voice again. He cleared his throat, and then tried once more, “well at least you are able to give a proper introduction. Revenge for the pain he has inflicted on me is a suitable enough reason for me to consider a temporary allyship. What precisely are these filthy machines for?”

Gears observed the angel as he looked as though about to be sick. He cared less about hurting the angel and more about screwing over Azazel in as many ways as possible.

“The machines can perform many tasks. They can repair or destroy, they could aid in healing your wounds. Could give Azazel a nasty surprise next time he tries to mess with you.” Gears said.

“Hm.” Mariel nodded slightly, but then shifted a little. “A nasty surprise is the best that creature could hope for from me. However, if this collar was deactivated and my power is returned, I could quite honestly heal myself and give him the surprise of a lifetime. What manner of beast are you? You are clearly a captive here, but you are not an innocent.

“Mmm, perhaps that is the best plan of action then. Especially if he doesn’t know the collar has been deactivated.” Gears mused.

“I am a shapeshifter, made through a mix of magic and tech here in this lab. I don’t think anyone in this place is truly innocent, or if they were the doctors never let them stay that way long…” Gears voice was quiet for a moment.

“Well then I’ll see what my machines can do about the cuffs and collar. You’ll have to find a way out of the thing he put on your shaft on your own, has some kind of weird magic. I’m used to the magic in the collars and cuffs so I can do something about them with enough time, but that thing I don’t think I can deactivate or get that off.”

There was that look of distaste again. “Ah,” he stated flatly. “One of the manufactured life forms that Lord Stahs had mentioned rescuing. I cannot hear the Voice down here; I don’t know if it’s the collar or the building blocking it, but if I could contact the council I could have this place burn to the ground..” he paused, and then frowned. “Oh, possibly not. Not with that auditor here. The demon is a menace, but the auditor is the true danger. You do realize that if the auditor is on the side of the demon, your little rebellion is going to fail, correct?”

“Hm. Hopefully not with the lot of us in here.” Gears muttered. “Then again maybe that would be a blessing in disguise.”

Gears contemplated his words, “You mean Voltaire? I believe his allegiance is his own. He has both helped us but also cautioned that we cannot currently overtake this place and those like it. The one who orders that demon around won’t allow it.” The consternation was clear in Gears voice.

“Is that what he’s calling himself? Cute.” Mariel sighed. “no, not necessarily with you and it. Lord Stahs was quite adamant that you were creatures deserving of some form of rescue,” he muttered, sounding strangely bitter.

“That auditor is only ever on his own side, however if he is fond of the demon then it doesn’t matter. He is legendary, something bigger than you can comprehend, something that even the Council of the Divine won’t touch.”

Shifting again, he tried to find a comfortable position as he drew his wings back up to his sides tightly. “I don’t care about you, I don’t care about any of you. I just wish to return to my duties. Had I not been distracted from my duties and lingered on impractical thoughts, I would not have been captured by this filth. Do what you will with these nanites that you have, it doesn’t matter. I feel sick already. I would rather this all simply burn.” And even as he admitted to his capture being his own fault, and the rage that was in his deceptively calm mind, just a few more of the golden cores of his feathers felt a tarnish, one of the feathers even gaining a few strands of black across the shining silver.

“Apparently.” Gears said, “Ironic considering he didn’t care to help Virus when he was betrayed. He couldn’t dislike him too much, Stahs had been kind before 24 came along and ruined it.

“Well fortunately for us the demon screwed up and pissed off the auditor by messing with someone he shouldn’t have. If he was fond I doubt he is now.” Gears said, “Not that that means he’s on our side, but at least I don’t think he’s on Azazel’s side easier.

Gears listened to him as he admitted to his capture, the swarm now out of sight, most of it in the angel’s body though he’d directed some to work at the cuffs and the collar. Slowly eating at Azazel’s magic like hungry bacteria.

“Fair enough. Well, getting these bindings off you seems like a win-win at least if you direct all that fury at the demon that did this to you.” Gears said.

“I’m certain he did,” Mariel said quietly. “Lord Stahs has a file a mile long, and I’ve read every word of it. The old fool wants to save everyone, so if he came across this virus then I’ve no doubt he tried to help them. It’s almost a joke. There’s only a couple of things that he doesn’t give a ||shit|| about and cannot stand. I and my kind are one of them.” Well, at least, that’s how he understood it. Files didn’t tell the whole story, after all.

As he said this, he slowly started to push himself to his feet, using the wall for support and stretching his wings out for balance. “My fury is endless,” he said quietly. “Your kindness is self-serving, but it is a kind of generosity none the less. I will take care to ensure that my rage does not burn you. My target is the demon.” He’d had so much spunk and snarkiness and him, but now he seemed to harbor a deep rage, his voice barely a whisper as his strength slowly returned thanks to the work of the nanites.

“Oh he did. Until he didn’t. Until that 24 took him.” Gears hissed, “The old fool can save anyone he likes except 24. 24 made his mess and now he’s going to pay.”

“Good. Hopefully the auditor will let you take that fury out on the demon. Only one way to find out.” Gears said.

“Much appreciated. Even if the alliance is temporary and self serving, we both want to see that demon burn.” Gears said gratefully, “I’ll leave you to your thoughts for now and do what I can to assist you in your revenge. Should you need to speak with me simply think of me and I will be aware.”

“No,” he said quietly once more. “He still cares even if jealousy and hatred has clouded your vision to that. That is neither here nor there. I won’t be leaving this place; my only goal is to ensure that -he- never leaves it either.” With that, the angel went quiet. He was indeed deep in his own thoughts, feathers slowly tarnishing one by one every few minutes.” If he had wanted to ruin Azazel’s plaything, he had done just that by nudging him on a spiraling path towards self-destruction.