Rev. Church couldn't believe his luck. Lucifer had discovered the new identities of Rev. Mather and Dr. Bashir. That would normally be an inconvenience, but it was an opportunity in the scheme to assassinate Beelzebub on Kushiel's orders.
Beelzebub had summoned all of the Iron Knights to his study in his palace in the Eighth Circle of Hell. "I suppose you're all wondering why you're here," the Archduke said, his scorpion claws clacking in frustration. "It is because Lucifer has been informed that 'Anax' and 'Mutea' are none other than Rev. Mather and Dr. Bashir. It would be most secure if I changed up all of your cover identities once again."
"Good!" shouted Dr. Bashir. "I'm sick of being a concubine, and I'm sick of being female!"
"It would be nice to be male again," nodded Rev. Cromwell. "Being a woman was... novel... at first, but I can't help but worry that my period might be coming up soon. Do female demons have periods like real women?"
"Are you suggesting that human women are somehow more 'real' than ours?" Beelzebub glared. "Bite your tongue, mortal!" Cromwell wisely shut up, deciding to save his hatred for the murder.
"Might I make a suggestion, Your Excellency?" Rev. Church asked, making sure to be extra polite.
"I'm listening," Beelzebub said, his eyestalks swiveling to face the disguised pastor.
"All of Hell is on red alert, right?" asked Rev. Church.
"It's a full lockdown of the Ninth Circle," Beelzebub said. "The only reason I could bring you here was on account of my authority as Minister of Justice." Beelzebub allowed himself a moment of smugness at holding Enoch's old court position. That wolf demon was proving to be nothing but a headache.
"Well, I think you should keep us here until the lockdown ends," said Rev. Church. "Give us identities as members of your palace staff in the Eighth Circle and let us lay low until the search dies down a bit."
"Perhaps that would be best," sighed Beelzebub. "We've had too many close calls."
Beelzebub whispered an incantation, and Rev. Church's demonic disguise shifted into a canine tauric form similar to Enoch's, only his lower body was that of a greyhound rather than a wolf. "Rev. Church, you will be Kalba, assistant kennelmaster of the hellhounds."
The Archduke then cast another spell, and Rev. Mather morphed into a pig-like demon with long, wicked tusks. "Rev. Mather, you will be known as Carnifex, one of my kitchen's chefs."
Beelzebub then worked his magic on Rev. Cromwell, who returned to male form and shifted into a mantis demon. "Rev. Cromwell, you are now Mastix, one of the overseers of my palace servants."
Lastly, Beelzebub performed his spell on Dr. Bashir, who also returned to male form and shifted into a bull-headed demon with a scaly body and the tail of a crocodile. "You, Dr. Bashir, are know to be known as Shuru, one of my palace guards. Now all of you get to your positions. I have much to think about."
Rev. Church smiled to himself as he left Beelzebub's office. He and his allies now had easy, nearly constant access to Beelzebub. His "unfortunate" death was only a matter of time. The angel Kushiel would soon get the dead archduke of Hell he needed for his plans. Rev. Church daydreamed of the rewards he would surely receive in Heaven for his deeds.