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The original was posted on /r/hfy by /u/Klokinator on 2025-09-05 16:30:19+00:00.
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…
(Part 001)
January 29th, 2021. Aevum’s Containment Area.
Heaven’s Daughter eyed the man standing before her. She sensed that something was a little ‘off’ about him, and it had to do with the Heroic Energy she sensed. Or rather, the energy she didn’t sense.
“You are not the first Trueborn I’ve met.” She said, leaning back in her chair. “But your ‘divinity’ is… the thinnest. It’s as if you barely possess any mana at all.”
“That’s because this isn’t my real body.” Jason said. Even though he knew anything he told her would likely make its way back to Raphael and the angels, he also knew being more forthcoming would benefit the forces of ‘good’ in the long run. ‘Good’ of course meaning anyone aligned with his interests. “This is a robotic drone that I am controlling with my mind.”
To prove his point, Jason casually popped his left arm off to reveal his Dronesmith’s mechanical parts inside its shoulder joint. Then he popped the arm back into place with practiced ease.
“A robot?” Heaven’s Daughter asked. “…I was under the impression that humanity had a long way to go before robotics became so… advanced.”
Jason smirked. “My Heroic Title is ‘Archseer’. That should tell you everything you need to know. I can see into the future, and thus I was able to procure highly advanced technology decades, even centuries ahead of time. Pretty impressive, right?”
The Strongest Lazarite did not appear moved.
“Perhaps you are unaware of this fact,” she said slowly, “but Archangel Camael is a Seer, and I converse with her frequently. I have learned many Truths about how foretelling the future works. What you have described is fundamentally impossible. One cannot glean such precise information from a hazy series of possible events… especially now that the timelines have been… Shattered.”
Jason’s heart skipped a beat. He looked at her with a faint flicker of surprise, but this flicker was enough to confirm her suspicions.
“If you’re just going to lie to me, this conversation is over, ‘Archseer.’” Heaven’s Daughter said mildly. She looked off to the side, deliberately breaking eye contact. “I have nothing to say to those who would lie to my face.”
Jason fell silent for a few moments. He looked at the side profile of her helmet, which hid her face. He could barely make out her eyes between the visor’s slits.
“You’re right. I lied. My true title is not ‘Archseer.’ And I am not a prophet. I am an architect. I wield the power of Imagination to defeat my foes.”
Heaven’s Daughter flicked her eyes back to meet his once more. This time, she didn’t look away.
“You said… Imagination?”
“That’s right. I cannot give you the full details, because every person who knows adds another link that could undo my strategic advantage over demonkind. But, to reassure you that I am no Dracula, nor that I hold no ignoble intentions, I can offer you three guarantees.”
Jason continued.
“First, multiple other Trueborn have taken to following my orders. My father, Cat Mask, is one. Jepthath and Madam Mildred are two more. Others will join them soon enough.”
“Jepthath.” Heaven’s Daughter repeated blandly. “I know his name. Raphael does not trust him.”
“Second,” Jason continued, “It was I who created this time-accelerated realm you are currently residing within. One day in the outside world equals one year in here. I have already spent several years rapidly formulating my plans and building up my contingencies. Once a year has passed from your perspective in Realspace, this realm will be unrecognizable. I will have hopefully amassed a lead the demons cannot hope to contend with.”
Heaven’s Daughter stood up. She activated her magic and sent out a pulse, but when it struck the walls, it bounced off and was unable to pass any further.
“How do I know you’re not lying?” She asked. “I can’t sense any ‘time acceleration’ happening. And I can’t sense outside of this extravagant ‘box’ you’ve stuffed me inside.”
“I have to maintain security protocols.” Jason said softly. “I’d love to give you a tour, but what happens in Aevum is top secret beyond anything you can fathom.”
He continued. “Thirdly, I am not a Seer, but I am a time-traveler from the future.”
This caused Heaven’s Daughter to have a visible reaction. She took a step back and looked at Jason in shock. “You’re lying!”
“I’m not.” Jason said calmly. “It’s a long story, and I can’t give you all the details, but I can tell you that I was frozen in cryosleep for 100,000 years, and when I woke up, the angels were nearly all dead, the Earth was destroyed, and humanity had been wholly enslaved by the demons.”
He paused.
“You were there, too. In fact, you were the last living angel among all the Lazarites and Purebloods. The Archangels had all been killed and ended up in their rings. Your situation was…”
Jason fell silent.
“…It’s better you don’t know. No matter what, I aim to ensure such a horrid future does not come to pass.”
Heaven’s Daughter looked at him for a long time without replying.
“You knew me in the future?” She asked.
“I did. This is your face, as I remember it.” Jason said, before secretly using Wordsmithing to instantly create a photo of her and send it to his Dronesmith.
When his drone waved its hand and produced a photo of Heaven’s Daughter out of thin air, her shoulders slumped slightly. She carefully took the picture from the Dronesmith and looked at it in disbelief.
“That… that’s me? But… I seem so… lean. Frail. Malnourished, even.”
“The future I came from was a future you should pray you never experience.” Jason said solemnly. “I really cannot afford to give you any further details- huh?”
Jason became momentarily tongue-tied when Heaven’s Daughter heaved a small sigh, reached up, and pulled off her helmet, revealing her face.
She was extraordinarily beautiful, with soft eyes and long white hair. Unlike the ‘Cassiel’ Jason remembered, this younger version seemed more heroic and valiant. There was plenty of fight in her eyes, contrasting sharply with her beauty. She embodied the ideal of a ‘Valkyrie’ from top to bottom. He had no doubt she was born for combat.
“There is no point in hiding my appearance if you already know it.” She said.
Jason’s Dronesmith, luckily, did not reveal any weird expressions. As beautiful as she was, his thoughts toward her were the same as if he were admiring a wonderful painting. She could not create any ripples upon a heart which had already been hardened by loss.
“Am I still to refer to you as ‘Heaven’s Daughter’?” Jason eventually asked.
“My name is unimportant. I live according to my title.” Heaven’s Daughter said quietly.
“Very well.” Jason said.
…
Some time passed. Jason healed the Strongest Lazarite’s injuries, and she regained her full fighting power.
“Please return me to Earth.” Heaven’s Daughter requested. “Heaven is under attack.”
“Not for another hour or two, in realspace-time.” Jason said. “That’s hundreds of hours for us. I still have a matter I need to speak to you about.”
“Me?” She asked. “Surely, Archangel Raphael would be more appropriate.”
Jason felt a bit of pride that his drone didn’t even twitch an eyelash at the mere mention of speaking to Raphael directly. As if he would ever want to do such a stupid thing like converse with that silver-tongued, lying sack of…
“Well, the thing is, I want to talk to you about Lazarites.” Jason said, changing the course of the conversation to something more appropriate. “Specifically, I need to know how Lazarites function, how they fight, and how I can help them become better at combating the demons.”
Heaven’s Daughter hesitated. She looked at Jason with that same obvious distrust she did earlier in the conversation.
“Have I said something wrong?” Jason asked, noticing her hesitation.
“Not… not exactly.” She replied, still keeping her guard up. “Look, I… I don’t see why you need to know this information. This isn’t any of your business, is it?”
Jason fell silent. He looked at Heaven’s Daughter, noticing now that she had become visibly discomforted by the direction the conversation was taking.
“It seems I’m treading upon a secret of some sort.” Jason said, as he looked away and thoughtfully tapped his lips with a finger. “Let me guess. Raphael told you never to speak of the power the Lazarites commanded. Is that why you’re hesitant to answer?”
“I… no! Of course not!” Heaven’s Daughter stammered. “It’s- it isn’t like that at all…”
"Well, let me see if I can paint …
Content cut off. Read original on https://old.reddit.com/r/HFY/comments/1n99y8x/the_cryopod_to_hell_669_double_drone_decision/
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