Raquel stood at the doorway taking one last minute to rethink his decision. He had already made incredible efforts to be allowed into the city. The Frenchman must have helped to make it even possible. Perhaps he wanted the soul of Apockalips so much he would do anything for it, or perhaps he just wanted the pride of bringing Raquel to him -- Maybe both. That bothered him... deeply. If the Merovingian wanted this meeting so bad, it could not be a good outcome.
Just before he turned to leave he remembered what brought him here. Not desperation, but obedience. Obedience to the gods he had sworn to serve. He had always deferred to their wisdom even with others might think it would cost him. If Logar wanted this exchange he would make it happen, because once he started doubting his trust in the gods the rest of his life had no meaning.
The bar was full of rancid wretched creatures all of which deserved to die. But that was not his mission, so he reluctantly stepped on.
"I must say, of all the desperate souls to come through that door looking for me, I never expected you. A toast, to unexpected pleasures." The Merv raised a drinking glass filled with some light green liquid to toast.
If the Keeper has come in here and made negotiations, so can I. Find the courage. "I have no need to make any deal just make a delivery." He placed the small chest on the table. "Apockolips, is yours as Logar commands."
The Merv smiles, "Very pleasant indeed. Well since I guess we shall never be friends then its on to business I suppose. You aren't here for a trade but that is what you will get. The deal has already been struck." He motions and an Albino man from the back steps forward with a velvet sack. "Zyrs horocrux. You will find similar black spheres in his scales. Target and destroy all of them and the Vegeta is defeated. That simple. Congratulations, you've made a great deal."
"This is a very valuable prize, you don't take deals that don't profit you. What are you up to? What you could do with this leveraging Zyr or protecting him to a mind like yours there is end to what you could do with this."
"Do you want to know the Why my Lord? of course you do, because it is that which grants true power, it is that which separates those with power with those who have none. I know the why, you do not, therefore I have the power and you do not. I can give you the why but such a valuable thing is not to given for free. So now you want to withdraw from this deal, you want to retreat but you can't, because of who you are, because of the 'why' that brings you here. You must obey, you like the rest only do what you must."
Raquel was not here to argue or negotiate with the foul creature, he had executed the god's will, negotiating anything more than that left the realm of trusting the gods and entered that of depending on his own wisdom. He stood and left.
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With Raquel gone the Merv sipped his drink. A touch salty but it ensured he drank it slow. With the soul of Apocalypse, an artificially created soul designed to interface with and control the other golems he could control them all. That was just the beginning harnessing that knowledge would allow him to quickly and effectively mass produce souls for his followers employees, and trading partners. He would no longer need to grant wishes or deals for souls he would just make them. A lord, a demon, even a god's power was measured by how many souls they influenced...Dragon, Zyr even Logar would be small game now. With the ability to build and alter souls even the gods would line up to deal at his table.
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5 years earlier.
"The great Spear of Pain, Master Dark Paladin of Gosher the Gosharian Khan. I see all is in order." The Merovingian gloated as he counted the 12 rubies Khan laid out before him. "If anyone could capture the 12 Seriphim of the Red Saint it would be you."
Khan spoke in a small even tone, "And your part of the agreement."
"Of course, here is your certificate, redeemable at any time for one soul in my possession. 12 for 1, not the profit I would expect from a master strategist like yourself. But the prize is yours and well earned. I look forward to a great many deals with you."
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Khan knew his time was almost up. The ripples he had sent through the angelic courts would be better for the celestials in the end, as the faithless were cut from the ranks, but it would cost him everything. Archons of Tyr were already looking for him. He had started to worry he had stretched the Isle's faith too far to blindly trust him so. But in the end, they did was they always do -- trust and obey.
He sat at the Merovingian's table moments after he watched Raquel leave the bar. He said nothing and slip the certificate across the table. "Apokolips"
Merv swallowed his anger with this drink. "I can't offer you another soul, perhaps one of greater value, perhaps your own. I could offer you shelter from the gods, immortality as opposed the the sure destruction that will embrace you. Surely that is why you are here, not for just some soul."
Khan sat silent for a moment then said evenly, "My why is my own, that is not your concern. Your concern is to fulfill your contract. The why is something I have that you do not, it is of great value something of that value should not be given for free. It is the why that is the source of power. It is that power that allows me to give you the illusion of choice. But you already know the choice you will make, it is the choice you must make because that is who you are. You will honor your deal with me because like everyone...you only do what you must."
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