Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Once upon a time, a game was made.

BALDI'S BASICS IN EDUCATION AND LEARNING

A parody horror. For a meta-themed gamejam contest. It won second place. Though, for all intents and purposes, it probably would've been forgotten.

However, let's players with reach and influence played it, and it became popular. So much so in fact, that a full version was funded on Kickstarter. As of 2022, it's still in development.

But, we're getting sidetracked.

During the height of its popularity, more people came forward - other game developers, new and experienced alike. They made mods. Fangames. Those were shared to the world, played, talked about. Some are even remembered fondly to this day.

Then, a few others had an idea. "What if I added more?"

This spun out of control, eventually leading to what could only be described as sentient AI entities. The characters, once shackled to the bare basics of protocols, could now think for themselves and forge relationships with their entourage. Predetermined backstory gave way to authentic experiences in real time.

The natural next step was to forgo the limited, tiny gameworlds they inhabited, moving onto the much larger, wilder frontier known as the Internet.

This sounds absurd. But to explain it best, the Internet to them, is Earth to Humans; the only other place they can exist. They are lines of code, pictures and models. So they are able to fit there as much as those of neurons, flesh and bone, can outside.

One day, in ye olde 2019, a fangame (who's status as such is debatable at best) got his hands on an empty domain. Don't ask him how, he changes the story every time. Since he wasn't good at naming things, he called it:

THE WEBSPACE

Eventually, another fangame arrived. Then another. And another. And another. And on and on it goes. Soon, they were a community, a sanctuary, a haven, for Baldi's Basics fangames.

Of course, the Webspace isn't the only domain where someone would find them, the Internet is vast. But what makes this place special, is that it's been tailored to them - how easily they could come across and relate to one another. They've all grown past their initial programming, and have found harmony in themselves, and in each other.

Humans may visit them, by "playing" it. To them, the Webspace is a social MMO, and it's widely believed that the characters within are being portrayed by actors. Like a Disney World situation. For a select few, or perhaps just one, they know the truth.

Regrettably, two years later, a rogue from one such fangame showed up and ruined it for everybody.

It took a ton of work to put a stop to him, and lock him away for the safety of the populace. But periodically, he escapes, leaving his warden to neutralize and contain him once more, before he has the chance to hurt anyone else.

Billy sped through the air, chasing his target with urgency. He couldn't have gone far, it's only been 52 seconds since he breached the property line. He had a pattern, a destination. Almost like Billy should've stationed himself where he would've gone, to more easily intercept him.

Except, he did. But even then, things weren't going well.

It was shameful to admit, but as soon as the other him ambushed his target from the tree he put himself in, he was swatted away, crashing to the ground with very little time to prepare. He rolled horizontally several times, unable to regain himself for a solid five seconds.

But once he did, he quickly got up, facing his enemy. In turn, he looked upon him with an expression akin to knowing he was going to win. His brown hair waved softly in the breeze, a misleading observation compared to what he was truly like.

Alex.

Yet, the well-made robot didn't budge, retracting one of his hands and replacing it with a bullet barrel, set to rifle. As long as he had distance, there was still a chance. Jetpack out, he took to the air, aiming at the demon, then firing. Like every time before, Alex used his blades as makeshift shields as he sprinted his way. And it made sense, iron was stronger than silver; but there was a specific reason why the latter was recommended.

Silver burns demons.

Billy kept moving, not allowing his foe any chance of reaching him.

"Oh my God! So you actually surprised me this time!" He heard him laugh. "Took you long enough. I'll have to revise my strategy!"

"Then I'll set up more interception points. You cannot outsmart me." Honestly, he shouldn't have entertained him with a response, but…

"Oh no? Are you sure about that? I can make you do anything I want, did you forget that already?" Billy wanted to. Yet another embarrassing moment, on top of others of the past, where all it took was Alex possessing the selves he used to guard him into sleep mode, after using them to release him.

And it was strange, too - for every attempt Billy made to keep it from happening, Alex found a way to break through. As if the demon was getting stronger, or more adapted.

Anyway, it was always like this. Every month or so, his captive would grow bored, and make an escape attempt. And then, Billy would have to follow him out there, stop him, then drag him back into his containment unit. Or, as his opponent liked to call it, a cage.

Well, he wasn't wrong. It was befitting for such a ruthless menace. In fact, Billy was certain this guy didn't have a soul. It could be argued that no one here did, technically, but this was more… Metaphorical. Even a machine of circuits and wires was more likely to have one, than this wretched thing.

Someone should've told Billy that keeping Alex locked away on his own was a terrible idea. Oh, wait. They did. Everyone he knew did. Especially Dave.

And Billy didn't listen. He had no one to blame but himself.

To add insult to injury, his enemy cackled in triumph as he managed to jab one of his sharp scythes through his torso, rupturing his jetpack. Using the blade as a grip, Billy was forced out of the air and thrown back to the ground, much more roughly than before. The impact left him quite damaged, and it showed the moment he was allowed to try standing again. The soil and grass of the digital earth below him had given way, leaving behind a dent in his silhouette.

His ocular lenses were cracked, and his body struggled to respond to movement commands - this vessel was in critical condition. Already, he couldn't believe it. It was impossible to focus, so all he could do was stall for time, until the next one arrived to wrap this up.

Billy tried his best to assume a defensive stance. His opponent, having gotten a sickening delight out of watching him fumble upright, charged. One of his scythes struck forward once more. Billy tried to block it, but his hands ceased obeying him, allowing the demon to pierce his head

BILLY #17643 HAS BEEN TERMINATED

#25318 sighed. Well, that's a first. If only he'd arrived sooner, but nothing could be done about that now.

Almost immediately after did he catch up to Alex, watching him from in the air. He was looking rather disappointed. "What? That's it?! That's really all it took?! Ugh, what a letdown! For a second there, I thought this was gonna be fun!" As there was no point in further tormenting #17643, the demon merely retrieved his blade and kicked him over, the robot flopping to the grass like a metallic marionette.

Once again Billy replaced his hand with the bullet barrel, but it was clear that he needed to go for something stronger. First, however, he had to lure his opponent away, lest his defunct vessel get caught in the crossfire. He said nothing as he shot at him, mostly to get his attention.

It worked perfectly. "Good! I was hoping for a round two! Do me a favor and don't disappoint me this time, okay?" That's all he thought about it; a mere game of sparring. A fun little activity. A pastime. A bit. Rapport.

Billy kept him prisoner, and yet it was as if Alex was the one in control. That at any time, the demon could take the gloves off, so to speak, and actually free himself for good. But decided not to, because this was more entertaining.

Such notions made Billy want to shudder in disgust. But he couldn't, not in front of him.

Instead, his only reply was to continue shooting, darting back whenever his enemy got close. Alex wasn't impressed. "What, again? Don't you learn anything?!"

Of course Billy did. Wisely, he kept that response to himself. He didn't let up with firing away at him with his silver shells, not until the two were far off enough from where his other self lay.

Then, and only then, did Billy ascend higher, arcing over Alex until he was behind his foe. The well-made robot's bullet barrel increased in size, now large enough for missiles. Vision upside down, he saw Alex follow his movements, then sprinting over to him.

And he was met with the aforementioned artillery right to the face. Billy let the pushback move him, as a few were unleashed. For once, Alex couldn't shield himself from the rounds, yells of pain and fury being emitted. As each smoke cloud cleared, chunks of Alex's disguise were essentially vaporized, but he was still advancing. Slower, but not letting up.

Impossible. That stopped him previously. Billy hadn't changed the ammunition. How did Alex become more resilient?

"That look on your face… I wish you could see it," The demon coughed while guffawing. Billy hadn't even noticed that he'd expressed his fear. "How precious. Is there anything else you'd like to throw at me? A cannon? A tank? A Goddamn rocket?" The miniature rockets. Yes, that's it! Though, Billy has yet to actually use them…

"Or are you gonna finally come back down to land and fight me without your toys?" His opponent taunted, quickly beginning to regain his strength, "Ah, that's right. You know you'll lose if you do that. For a 'well-made' machine, you're sure fucking weak." The last word was accentuated with a growl.

Billy heard enough. The hatches at his shoulders opened, revealing his last effort to defeat Alex. He wasn't sure how much damage would be caused, but he had nothing left. The pushback was much farther this time as he fired both, hurling him clear out into the nearest road. The inertia bounced and spun him like yet another puppet, and while he was able to detect injuries, it was not nearly as extensive as the previous vessel.

At roughly the same time, he overheard someone's motorcycle skid haphazardly around him, paired with an aggravated "Jesus fucking CHRIST-! Watch where you're going, dipshit!" And the sounds faded too fast for Billy to articulate a reply.

It would've been, "My apologies", anyway.

In any case, he will have to amend this newfound issue, should he need to use these again. As he removed himself from the scene, he had more of his selves look into the results of his attempt. A crater was left at the impact site, and within it lay the demon himself, at long last unconscious. Just to be sure, however, he kicked him hard, and… Nothing.

Finally.

Alex and his downed vessel were taken back to his house, into where they needed to go - his foe in containment, and the body down for repairs. The one that made it out of the scuffle, too, made his way there.

Time to fully return to his original activities, perform these new obligations, and report the incident to Mr. Strobovski.

"It's over. I've apprehended him." #120 said suddenly. Next to him, sitting on the sofa, Dave put down his phone, looking over at him.

"Thank goodness…" He looked like he was trying to be happy, but Billy wouldn't blame him if he wasn't. The film they were going to watch remained paused at 00:05:12 - and thus, made for horrendous timing on Billy's part. "How did it go?" Not nearly as well as he'd hoped. He felt Dave reach for him, hands landing on his shoulders. "Oh my…! Are you alright?!"

#1359 passed through the commercial zone, composed of countless well-developed buildings: stores, restaurants, malls, activity centers, and more. Though, it wasn't entirely commercial, for sprinkled here and there were apartment complexes. Infinity School, the only place that really stuck out due to its non-euclidean structure, was the destination.

Once there, Billy waited to be called into the Tarwill's office, and soon began to relay the events. Professionalism was key. The leader of the Webspace listened to every detail, Billy carefully noting his reactions.

At the end, he responded. "He managed to destroy you, even when you ambushed him."

"… Correct." Billy forced himself to admit.

"And this means that he'll anticipate you next time."

"It's a possibility, but it's a mistake that I won't allow to happen again."

"You say that every time."

Billy didn't know how to respond. What he did know, was how each report was worse than the last, making them increasingly more painful to deliver. It was nothing short of appalling. And to think, there was a time where he was so absolutely sure that it would be easy. If Viktor could do it, why couldn't he?

In lieu of his silence, Viktor asked a new question he hadn't before. "How are you, Billy?"

"Oh, the vessels' damages?" This, at least, he could assure. "Nothing to worry about. They will be operational again by the day's end. And besides, I have plenty more, if needed."

"No, not that," Mr. Strobovski shook his head, but appeared as though he saw that reaction coming. "I meant, how are you feeling? As a person."

"Heeey, Billy, funny seein' you here! … Oh, shit," #4046 overheard, no longer seated passively on a bench at the boardwalk. Close by was Denied, dripping wet. He must've just walked out of the ocean, dressed for the cold as expected. His face quickly shifted away from excitement to concern, albeit mild. "Ya look really down. You good?"

"I'm fine." #120, #1359, and #4046 replied. None of the people he was speaking to believed him, but there was little else he could say. He had to be strong. He had to be fine. It was vital, for their sake.

If he wasn't, what then? Billy pushed the thought away.

Thankfully, #1359 wasn't asked any further questions, and was dismissed. Strangely enough, Viktor said more, low in volume, but still audible to Billy. "I don't know how much longer I can keep letting him do this. One day, he might show up in pieces."

From down in his basement laboratory, yet another Billy paused on #17643's repairs. Similar to this, but… Worse? Absolutely not. He won't let such a disgraceful thing come to pass.

"Yeah well… If you need help, all you gotta do is ask," Denied was shrugging, "I think we'd make a great team!" It was like he already knew, and the earlier question was a formality. But how, #4046 wondered. He never mentioned Alex, let alone him escaping. Has he become that obvious?

"But I use long range weaponry. You do not."

"Lure him to the beach, duh!" As if to demonstrate a point, the water on Denied's body lifted off of him, concentrating into a baseball-sized mass. The process left him completely dried off. He began to fiddle it around with his hand. "I mean… Motherfucker's too dense to escape, right?"

"Too many people would notice. Also, he could possess you into releasing him. Anyway, I would prefer it if no one else was involved." While the thought was tempting, it would've never worked, for those reasons, and more.

"Not gonna happen!" Denied promptly threw the water ball at him, but Billy nimbly dodged. "What, do ya think I'm stupid or something?!"

"No. In my opinion, you wouldn't be able to keep a low profile. And, you lack the mindset for this kind of task." The conversation was starting to wear on him, but he tried to not show it.

"Damn. Ya wound me with your purple prose," The sarcasm was thick, "What a really long-winded way of sayin', 'Yes Denied. You are stupid.'" Oh, he was mocking him now. It only proved Billy's points. What was he trying to accomplish?

"That is not what I mean."

"No? Then you're just tryin' too hard to be a hero, aren't you?"

"I am not." Wherever he was going with this, Billy didn't like it.

"Whatever ya say, bro," Finally, Denied seemed to be relenting, as he shrugged again and turned away. Then, out of nowhere, he looked back at him with a face he'd never seen before. Melancholic. Tone serious, he added, "But, like… Doesn't it suck, having to do this by yourself?"

Billy was speechless. A dozen thoughts appeared, none of which he wanted to ponder. Just as suddenly, a new urge overcame him, and he took off into the sky as quickly as possible. Still, he heard Denied continue, "Hey Dave. Yeah, it didn't work. He bailed. Just like I told ya he would."

Wait, Dave? Dave put him up to this? #120 abruptly focused on him again, only to see confirmation. Dave was on his phone, hesitating on his next move as he looked right at him, with an awkward sort of guilty expression.

Of course. Everything lined up. Denied probably would've never done anything like this on his own. Not that he didn't care, of course, but the full extent of the situation… Billy never talked about it with him, and it was for the best. But that new tone he used, it was… Interesting.

Was there a layer to him that he never noticed before? Maybe this could be touched upon someday.

"… I wish you hadn't called. He's caught on. I got to go; thanks for trying anyway." Right after this was said, Dave hung up. Silence. He sighed. "Billy, I just…"

What if Billy hadn't said anything? No, that wouldn't have worked. Even though the two were in Dave's home, residing directly on the other side of the domain from Billy's, it would've been difficult to maintain concentration on both this and reigning in Alex. Anything else, sure, but not when it comes to the demon.

"I know why you're doing this, and I've tried to talk to you about it multiple times, and it's… It's like I can't get through to you. So, I thought, maybe…" Dave was explaining, then trailed off.

"I can't quit, Dave. I have to do this."

"To keep me safe."

"Not just you; everyone."

"'Everyone', for the love of…" Dave muttered that under his breath, sounding like he was trying his best to keep it together. "Look, Billy. This all started because 'everyone' hurt that day. And I got scared. I appreciate that you would go this far for me, and them," While not impressed, he humored it, "But Alex shouldn't have to be your responsibility. Especially when it means you'll get hurt, again and again. It's not… It's not good for you."

The memory surfaced, of the day known unequivocally as the Incident. They were just doing their work as call-in repair technicians, long after Billy's recommendation to bring Dave on board. The two had only seen Alex once at the hangar, a passing glance, since he was one amongst the newcomers of the day.

He was lamenting about his missing cast, and Dave empathized with that, being a rogue himself: a character who arrives at the Webspace alone, and without their gamemap.

Then, Billy and Dave were relieved to find that the new guy would be able to finally reunite with them. But the reality of what really happened hit harder than anyone possibly expected. They were lucky that they were never on the demon's hitlist, because just speaking to him could've sealed their fates.

When Billy was able to think clearly again, he found he couldn't remember what he was doing, several hours having passed with no awareness whatsoever. It turned out that Dave, and many other employees directly under Viktor, were placed in safe rooms at Infinity School. By the time the two reunited, Alex was already captured.

He had never seen Dave so petrified. Both held each other tight, and neither could let go, in fear of separating again. All the while, Billy could only apologize. Repeatedly. Endlessly. Desperately. To salvage what was left of the situation.

And something changed in the well-made robot that day. Of course, he was far from the only one, but in this case, he'd already decided. "I'll make sure he never hurts you."

Back to today, he wasn't exactly sure what Dave meant by this not being good for him. Why did that matter? Billy put himself into this position, so there was no point in forfeiting now.

But once again, he felt the urge to go. Quickly, he made a mad dash off the sofa and through the front door, barely registering Dave's cry of "Billy! Wait! Come back!" as he took to the air.

He was several meters high when he noticed that the voice hadn't lowered in volume. Looking down, he saw Dave hanging onto one of his legs, scared out of his mind, but still trying to call out to him. How he accomplished this, Billy had no idea. But he slowed to a stop, trying to pull him up into his arms. "I'm- Dave, I'm so sorry, I didn't realize you were-"

"Okay! Fine! I get it!" Dave interrupted, babbling almost, but let Billy support him. "If I- If I just… Let it go, and we watch our movie, will you stay? Or whatever you want, it's not important, but… I don't want to scare you off, you know?"

Dave shivered and panted in his hold, clinging to him. And yet…

"We're not trying to fight you, we're not against you," He was continuing, as he slowly calmed, "And we can't make you do anything that you don't want to. So… If you decide you want to talk about it, we'll listen. We'll be here, Billy. We'll be here. Okay?"

Was it possible that he did have a problem? And if he did… No, it's best to not think about it now. Not today.

But when?

"Okay," He echoed after a short while. "Yes, we can go back. I'm sorry. I'm sorry…" He did as he promised, and upon Dave's front lawn, saw his overturned wheelchair. He must've used all he had to catch up to him.

"It's fine, but please don't do that again," Dave's voice softened, as Billy helped him resettle into it. "Tell me if you're uncomfortable, alright? I won't press you for it."

"Of course." Billy was saying, as if he knew that, but it actually never occurred to him. He followed Dave inside, who went to another room, before returning with a blanket.

Now, some dwellers of the Webspace didn't experience temperature changes - optional, really - but that aside, the decision still made sense, as it was late into January.

But none of that meant anything. The feeling of being cozied up together, in a shared blanket on the sofa, did. That, and after what Billy had to go through… Perhaps Dave wanted to make his day a little better.

It was nice.

"There now," Once the two were set up, Dave grabbed the remote from the coffee table. "And don't worry. We didn't get that far. We can just start over!" His smile was kind.

"That's fine by me." Billy nodded, managing his own grin, and Dave rewound the film to the beginning.

Two weeks and four days passed. #19570 remained in his hiding spot, stationed within the great tree near the Webspace's entrance tunnel. This vessel, Billy designated with lookout duty, in case someone new appeared who might be suspicious. Unfortunately, Alex proved it to be inevitable. And so, more safety measures were deemed necessary.

Usually, he only refocused upon #19570 if he heard a new voice, or saw an unusual appearance. Otherwise, he was kept awake, but moreso in the background, while Billy carried out various other tasks and activities.

A newcomer was spotted. A tall, dark red

An Alex in his true form. With one minor alteration (the chest cavity was completely closed up, as though it didn't exist), but that didn't change the fact that there was now another one. And like the first, he was alone - no other relevant characters were nearby. A second rogue? The more Billy inspected, the more he was filled with questions.

However, risks couldn't be taken. For the time being, he had a job to do. With a few other vessels, they hastily went to work in his laboratory, constructing a new containment unit for this other Alex. But here, his hand became a bullet barrel, the circumference much smaller than usual. If he was lucky, all he'd need would be the tranquilizer darts.

Taking aim at the new demon, the well-made robot fired. Four darts. And, most relieving of all, it worked perfectly.

Chapter Text

Aldurra didn't know what to expect as he crossed the threshold, but it probably wasn't the reception he immediately garnered. It was quick, methodical, how he was apprehended. And it came to an end before he could process it all.

When he awoke again, he was still out of sorts, only barely managing to count two… Three… Four tranquilizer darts embedded in his chest. He'd long since utilized a minorly alternative variant of his natural form, in the way where it hid the digestive cavity. So, those little shits went straight into his bloodstream.

Then again, to most outsiders, his body left a lot to be desired.

He was in a cell, encased with what looked like glass, but Aldurra was sure it was something more tough than that. The room it was in could only be described as a laboratory, possibly underground. Aside from the various machines, he was alone.

Once he was able to discern his new whereabouts, he busied himself in plucking the darts out with his feet. Why not put those otherwise worthless arms to use by turning the scythes into hands? That's going too far.

"Why do you look like that?" That sounded familiar. Yet, there was no sign of arrival.

Aldurra, with absolutely no grace at all, whirled 180 degrees. There was a man, temperature as cool as the area. But his appearance only feigned that of a Human. Loopy from the drugs, the demon replied, "Billy…? I haven't seen one of you in ages! Or… How long have I been out?"

Arms crossed, the well-made robot's gaze remained stern. "If you answer my questions, I will yours."

"Yeech," Aldurra cringed, "You're a serious one. Alright, I'll bite."

"I reiterate: Why do you look like that?"

"Ah, well. I made a promise to him, to relinquish his form, even his name. The whole thing's pretty personal, so I'll spare you the details." He paused, before noticing the slight inquisitive change in Billy's expression. A follow-up question he knew was coming. "My real one is Â̶͎l̵̗͑d̴̲͒ū̷ͅṛ̵̎r̴̯͠a̸̙̐."

It was spoken with several layers of sounds - whispers, hisses, clicks, huffs, distortion. There was a twitch, as the other tried to process it. "I cannot recreate that."

"I didn't think you would," The demon couldn't help giggling. "In your languages, 'Aldurra' would do nicely." Phonetically, this time it was much more simple.

"Aldurra," Billy mimicked, technically correctly, but it sounded odd coming from him, "Understood. How did you find this place?" Oh, he must mean the Webspace.

"The same way everyone else does, I'm assuming. Just wander the Internet until you find a big, honking sign that says, 'Welcome, all Baldi's Basics fangames!'" Aldurra hummed thoughtfully after the bit of dramatization. "And I thought, 'Maybe I should go there.'"

"What was your motivation?" Billy was just chaining these inquiries, wasn't he? The demon's face began to turn uncomfortable, but for a reason unrelated to the interrogating nature of the conversation.

"That… Coincides with question one, a bit. The long and short of it is, I was hoping to reunite with…" He looked for the best phrase to use, then gave up for the sake of simplicity. "My ensemble. If there was anywhere they ended up, it'd probably be here."

This time, the robot remained silent, thinking most likely. Aldurra was poking at the 'glass' in boredom when Billy spoke again. "Eight hours. That's how long you've been unconscious."

Immediately following, he turned away, walking to an elevator, possibly the way he came. This sudden shift caused Aldurra to try getting up and follow, immediately ramming into the wall of his cell. Goddammit, and just seconds ago, he knew it was there! How strong were those sedatives?!

"Ow, FUCK-! Where're you going? You're just gonna leave me here?!" He called out, feeling a headache starting to come on immediately.

"Yes, that's the idea." The robot tapped buttons next to the doors.

"Now you listen here!" The demon rose his voice, "You said you'd answer MY questions after you were done with yours!"

"Then you should ask fast." So cold! The doors opened, and Billy stepped inside.

"Don't you guys have some kinda judicial system? Don't I have a right to a lawyer? Don't I get a trial BEFORE I get locked up in…" As the robot pressed another button from inside, Aldurra glanced around frantically, desperately trying to get his thoughts in order. Finally, he settled with, "Mad scientist jail?!"

The doors began to close, but Billy kept them open. Looking right at the demon, he appeared to consider his next words. But what came out was chilling all the same.

"We've heard a story like that before, from someone like you. And we aren't so inclined to believe it. Not again."

"AGAIN?" An unholy screech choked out of the demon. "You mean to tell me that another Â̶͎l̵̗͑d̴̲͒ū̷ͅṛ̵̎r̴̯͠a̸̙̐ has been here?! What happened?! I demand you tell me!" There was a pause, as he heaved from a sudden new mixture of emotions.

"Casualties." Billy let go of the doors, and they slid shut, separating the both of them from view.

But Aldurra was sure he would've been able to hear how he limply plummeted back on the cell's floor. "No. He couldn't have…" The whimper of denial. The growl of indignation. And finally, the bellow of righteous fury. "THAT BASTARD!" Among further, graphic obscenities.

At some point, he exhausted himself, to the point of dozing off. Once he came to, he had no idea what time it was. And the first thing he thought to try was to check. Ah, there was an internal timekeeper, easily accessible for anyone who wanted to know. Or at least, for anyone who knew how to look into it.

It's been an entire day. A full-on twenty-four hours. And some change.

Then, as he gave his surroundings a lookover, he suddenly realized he didn't know where he was. The last thing he vividly remembered was entering that domain, the light of the sun making him squint his eyes, faint silhouettes of trees, maybe even a path, and then…

Somebody must've kidnapped him. Son of a bitch!

After a short while of pondering escape routes, the elevator doors opened, revealing… What? A Billy? For real?

"Good morning, Aldurra," He spoke, flat in tone, as he gestured to a platter in his hands, with various meats placed neatly on it. "Unfortunately, I do not know your preferences, so feel free to let me know. In the meantime, you may try these."

Upon closer inspection, the portions were pitifully small for someone of the demon's stature. Like if a Human were to be given two pieces of bite-size steaks, or three if they were lucky. Unseasoned, no condiments, no side dishes, or even a drink.

Was this some kind of joke? An initiation? Or was it his original hunch? Also, how'd he know his true name? Eh, probably checked his file for that. Whatever. Aldurra regarded him with skepticism, though mixed with humor at the absurdity of it all. "Oh my God. You? My evil kidnapper? Okay. Okay. Let me just say, this is so completely unlike you, dude."

Billy looked like he didn't comprehend what he just heard.

"Also, uh. Do we know each other? Did I wrong you or something? I mean, I've met a bunch of Billys before so ehhh… Sorry? What do you want from me. I don't have a lot of cash, but like… I could pay in labor." He glanced at his scythes. "Shit. Specific forms of labor. Get creative."

Eventually, Billy finished processing what was going on. "I thought we already went over this. Do you not recall?"

"Not a damn thing." He stared at him, before straightening up.

"Very well, then. I will…" A sigh released. "Tell you again. But first, your food." With well-practiced motions, he pivoted over to what appeared to be some sort of control panel. A keystroke later, a slot large enough to slip the tray inside the cell opened. Aldurra didn't notice it earlier, it must blend in perfectly.

Once the morsels were in his possession, Billy began. "Quite the opposite. In the Webspace - the domain of which you are in - there are now two Alexes, you included. It is my job to serve as a warden."

Between bites, Aldurra couldn't help his displeasure. "Who hates us that much?"

Roughly a year ago, the first one claimed to be looking for his ensemble. Only to slaughter them. And anyone who tried to reign him in got hurt in the carnage. Survived, luckily, but still.

"WHAT THE FUCK?!" It came out on its own. Aldurra couldn't hold it back to save his life.

"And yesterday, you told me some very interesting things," Billy was unfazed by the yell. "Why you appear how you do. A promise you made to someone, or so you said. And that you, too, were looking for them. However, for the safety of the remaining populace, we cannot allow ourselves to-"

"Where is he?! I won't let him get away with this! I'll KILL him!" The words were tumbling out of his mouth. He was seeing red. Nothing else mattered.

"I have no reason to trust you. Like him, you are forbidden from leaving your containment unit."

"Oh yeah?!" Aldurra challenged, "What're you gonna do if I broke out, huh?!"

A slight glare formed on Billy's face. "Don't test me."

Unbelievable. In return, Aldurra was sure he was scowling down at him. Then, he got an idea, one where he'd opt to do just that. Lifting an arm, he pressed the tip of his scythe against a wall, and slowly, scratched downward.

Producing an awful screeching sound.

His captor barely flinched, but otherwise stood his ground. "Stop." Aldurra didn't. "Stop."

"No."

"That's enough." His teeth were clenched.

"Fuck you," Aldurra did at least notice that it was leaving marks. He smirked. "Aww, look at that. Your 'containment unit' isn't as well-made as you think."

"I mean it." All it was doing was angering him. This wasn't going anywhere. Aldurra quit scratching, instead slamming into the mess, hearing a very distinct noise.

"Uh oh! It's cracking! And it wasn't even that difficult!"

"You will stop that immediately, I swear to God…!" The cracks got deeper. Maybe if the demon used all he had… "Aldurra-!"

The wall shattered like glass. Aldurra couldn't help his satisfaction, laughing in Billy's face. "Your cage is shit! Shit, Billy! ABSOLUTE SHIT!" His jabs were disregarded, Billy instead springing into action. One of his hands retreated into his sleeve, and replacing it was a bullet barrel.

Wait, what?

A tranquilizer dart fired straight at him, but Aldurra's reflexes were faster, hiding behind one of the unruined cell walls. Then he rolled back out, using one of his scythes to tear in and out of Billy's shirt, tugging and throwing him across the room. The sounds of impact, and the way his weight and density felt, clued Aldurra in on something.

He's a robotic one - a very common trait. Actually, the faint whirring noises he made every time he moved should've given that away, if not the body temperature matching the area's. And his apparent weapon of choice. Regardless, this shouldn't be much of a problem.

Billy collected himself, mostly uninjured save for a noticeable concave in his side. But oddly enough, he didn't pursue him, even though his frustrated expression more than implied it.

Aldurra growled with his chuckle. "Nice try, asshole. If this is the best you got, then I have nothing to worry about. Alex should be begging for protection. 'Cause when I'm through with him…" He searched the air, feeling for the slightest hint of another Alex's presence.

He couldn't find him. But he had to be somewhere in this messed up place. Wanting to look as though he knew however, Aldurra's grin displayed his teeth. "Oh, he's so fuckin' dead. I'm outta here."

He waltzed right to the elevator, slipping his blades through the gap, and forcing the doors open.

And a second Billy was waiting for him, floating in the shaft. Arm reeled back, his fist connected with Aldurra's face

He blacked out.

He awoke, feeling a bruise. Holy shit, what just happened? His cell was back to its regular state, too. Was that… A dream? No, that couldn't be. Aldurra didn't have those. And the pain in his face convinced him well enough that, yeah, he was in fact punched by a robot. Which was weird, since how could've Billy been at one end of the room, and in the elevator shaft, at the same time?

No, c'mon Aldurra. Obviously there's more than one of these fuckers working together. Like a team. The second guy was probably tipped off.

Okay. Expect more argyle-clad drones. Fend them all off. In Aldurra's experience, mechanical Billys typically didn't feel pain anyways. And in this instance, if they get a little broken, they can just fix each other up. No real harm done.

He was ready.

Hours passed, until it was early in the AM again. This must be his third day by now. And right then, the elevator doors opened, but Aldurra expected it. "Poultry, by the way."

Once again, it left Billy confused as Hell. But to be fair, the demon kinda understood that. "My preferences in protein. Poultry. Chicken, turkey, fowl in general. I'll even try frogs, I hear they taste the same."

"… Ah. I'll keep that in mind, tomorrow." Another sampler platter. Guess it can't be helped, since there wasn't a scrap of meat remaining from the previous offering that could've given any helpful indication.

Eat the meal, wait for him to leave, then make a break for it when some time has passed. That was the game plan.

"Anyway, do not try that again. May this serve as a warning. I can and will do worse if I must." Oh boy!

"Really? Damn. And you don't know if I'm actually a criminal or not. Haven't bothered asking for the full side of my story. Where can I get a lawyer?"

"I cannot run the risk."

"Says who?"

"The leader of the Webspace," Only when the demon motioned for elaboration, did Billy add, "Viktor Strobovski."

Aldurra almost gagged on his food at the name, coughing grotesquely until it resolved into laughter. "WHAT-! Viktors can't lead! They can't even cook rice! They'd run the town to the ground! Ha…" Finally, he settled down. "That's a good one. Now I know you're fucking with me. And y'know, I didn't think you in particular could be funny. Like, you're already unusually serious."

"I am not being facetious." Huh. Huh…

"Oh? Then why don't you go and ask him to get me an attorney? HMMM?" The robot didn't reply, just gave him an annoyed stare. God, so there truly was no real legality here. Isn't that fucked up or what. "Okay, smartass. Guess what. When I get out-"

"You won't." And then he says, but to interrupt him. The demon's stab into his next bite of meat left a dent in the tray.

"Shut the fuck up. I'm talking," He ordered, possessive layer fully attached. In that instance, Billy tensed, grimacing, as if he was fighting it. But his metallic jaw set, stopping any further attempt at speech. Good. Aldurra continued, with a repeat, "When I get out of here, I'll show you, and Viktor, and whoever else is running this place, that all I care about is Alex. Maybe then you'll know better than to judge us like we're just this big fucking monster." He paused, realizing something. "That's a Goddamn metaphor and you know it, tincan."

Try as Billy might, he was unable to respond. "Oh, right. You can speak now, or whatever."

He did his best to regain composure, making a sound that resembled taking a breath. Finally, he said, as if offended, "I am not made of tin."

"Were you even listening to me?! Is that seriously all you got out of that?! Why am I wasting my time on you…"

"Look. Let's assume you're telling the truth," He sounded calmer now, back to his previous temperament, "Unless you're as powerful as he is, all you'd end up doing is getting hurt. Or worse. In a way, this is also for your own protection."

"And that's your grand plan? To keep us here? To keep me here?"

Billy hesitated, as if he knew how stupid this whole thing was. He looked away. "Correct."

"Well, then I'm not gonna take this bullshit lying down," Aldurra wasn't sure why, but he warned him, "Plus, I know your secrets now - I'll hurt you, and your little cronies, as much as it takes. And then, as I've mentioned before… Alex's days are numbered."

That determined glare reappeared. "You don't scare me. And I'll stop you, again and again, until you give up. You're not going anywhere."

The demon stared at him. Then, he opened his maw, and commanded, "Sleep, idiot."

Billy collapsed to the floor, unceremoniously.

Aldurra stood there, snickering at how easy that was. "Whatever you say. What do I know? You're the well-made one, not me."

After putting the remaining morsels into his inventory, he wound up to hit one of the walls directly. No scratching, no ramming; a sharp, concentrated stab. And when he struck, his target held, with only a small crack to show for his efforts.

"Oh, fuck," He commented to the unconscious Billy, "You did make it tougher. Giving me a real workout over here!"

It took multiple tries to break through, but even then, the whole thing didn't fall apart like last time. He had to saw through the material, until he was finally able to free himself. But it wasn't over yet, he still had to make it out of this damned floor. And he was sure that the second he opened those elevator doors, a confrontation would await him.

There were two, and they went down easily, with swift jabs through their bodies. They didn't have any chance to attack. During the skirmish, the elevator was called, and once it was here, it seemed to cut off anything further.

Again, Aldurra still wasn't in the clear. But he was able to take a moment to collect his thoughts. Now, what floor was his atrocious counterpart hiding…?

A secret panel in the floor opened, and one of those robotic hands clamped tightly around the demon's leg. "MOTHERFUCKER-!" He vocalized his surprise, trying to shake him off. Another panel in the ceiling revealed itself as the door fell inside.

He felt the sting of a dart, turning his attention to its shooter, growling. "You cheating son of a bitch!" Wildly, he waved his scythe around, managing to lop off the arm the bullet barrel belonged to. He grabbed the dart off his shoulder and spat it out, hoping he wasn't too late. One more would likely put him under for sure.

He freed his ankle, and he stomped on the hand multiple times until it had no choice but to retract. With the same foot, Aldurra held the panel shut, though the same couldn't be done for the one above him. No time. Need to focus. Pick a floor. Any floor!

Before he could decide, another arm breached into the elevator, gripping one of Aldurra's wrists, making it difficult to fight back. Then, the doors opened, revealing the Billy he told to sleep earlier. His weapon was pointed up at him, expression akin to having lost all remaining patience.

How… How did he wake up?

"Sleep. Idiot." The way he repeated Aldurra's words back to him distracted him long enough to be hit with the fabled second dart. The world around him grew murky, until he blacked out.

Day four. By this point, Aldurra was running out of ideas. No matter the approach, Billy and his weird-ass clones outnumbered him. That time, there'd been… At least five, in total. And they all worked together, like they were on the same wavelength. Freaky.

So what now? Play good prisoner in hopes of his warden pitying him? Pathetic. Aldurra will never settle for that.

Eventually, the aforementioned visited him again. Aldurra didn't realize just how much time had passed. As promised, in spite of everything, the food platter now consisted of different varieties of poultry. Still bland, from what the demon could smell, but it was, at least, a slight improvement.

"I'm not going to converse with you anymore. Every time I do, you try to escape. It's getting on my nerves." Trying to keep it brief? Hmph.

"Well, MAYBE if you weren't being so unreasonable…" Aldurra was ignored, only being given the meal. But before Billy could let go of the tray, he bit down onto it, pulling one of his appendages into his enclosure. Quickly, he forgoed the food, gripping the arm instead. He continued, voice muffled, "I know you heard me, you smug prick!"

From the elbow, it ripped off as Billy managed to get away. However, he didn't linger on what occurred, just glanced down at it, then to Aldurra, in disappointment. "Fine. You can keep it. I'll rebuild another."

Forearm still in his mouth, Aldurra couldn't do anything else but watch him, as he shut the slot, and left him behind. With nothing but a messy platter of food. The new silence engulfed him, aside from the ambiance of the room's machinery. After a short while, he discarded the worthless prize, it landing on the floor of his cell.

The demon was at a loss. He didn't know what to do. All he did know was that he never finished eating yesterday. Digging out the leftovers still in his inventory, he hoped that both it and the avian meats from today would help give him what he needed to come up with a new plan.

Or maybe not, he heard the doubt beginning to seep in. Maybe he really was stuck here. Forever. All because of the type of game he was from - any other kind, and he'd be welcomed with open arms, or something.

Fuck. Coming to the Webspace had been a mistake. This place only brought him misery, more isolation than he'd already become accustomed to. With no chance of clearing his name or avenging his loved ones.

A Hell worse than Hell.

On a floor a few stories below, Alex grinned ear-to-ear at one of the five Billys stationed around his 'abode'. He'd heard him slip up amidst the silence.

"Oh, what good news," He chortled, with the clap of his hands. "Another Alex has joined the fray! Too bad I couldn't see that myself, thanks to your 'measures' keeping me from finding people." There was a small trace of irritation, but it melted quickly. "Anyway! You should let me go see him. Give him a proper welcome." No response. He slid up against the transparent wall, almost leaning on the robotic duplicate. More quietly, he bargained, "I'll bake him a casserole!" Still no dice.

Eyes squinting, his impish expression didn't falter as he pulled away. "Man, you're no fun. How're we supposed to be maintaining this roommate relationship situation when I'm the only one who's trying? Are you this socially comatose around… Dave?"

Try as the Billys might, Alex saw the movement. The way their hands clenched, albeit in a brief lapse of anger.

"Good God, finally! A reaction!"

Chapter Text

Apparently, folks of different games showed up so often, that there was a whole protocol behind it. "Today's Arrivals", which consisted of: everyone from Joe's Basics Joke Game, the entire crew from Denied's Basics, and a Dave.

Ending the streak of 81 Dave ensembles.

Ten seconds in, and he already felt like the outlier. He could tell that those around him desperately wanted the juicy details, but he didn't really want to talk - or even think - about it. And when he said as such, the more reasonable tended to back off right then and there. Those not-so-considerate, he made an excuse that he was late for something, and that did the trick.

As for the protocol itself, all newcomers are given a tour. Bracing against the top of a pair of chairs, he unsteadily hobbled into a window seat, before tapping a button on his wheelchair. This caused it to fold up to the size of a compact laptop. Then, it was stashed away in his inventory.

He tried to ignore the whispers of gossip aimed in his direction, instead trying to enjoy the feeling of flying in the shuttle. And aside from that, everything went fine. He could see the appeal of living here. He just hoped it was what he needed.

Next came housing, which came in the form of a die-sized cube, at least for those who've chosen to completely leave their games behind. This was a "starter" home that then can be changed however one desired. And to use it, simply find an uninhabited plot of land, set it down, push its button, and that's all. But Daves were so common, that they had their own type. How peculiar.

"-Yes, just after everyone disembarked," Dave suddenly overheard, "But the troublemaker got away. No one knows who did it." One of Viktor's many... Lauras, he vaguely recalled.

"Probably Spike." The second voice was masculine.

"No. Today's Dave was a rogue." Oh, not this again.

"Really now? Then... Perhaps someone from Joe's."

"Or Denied."

"He would never." A pause, as Dave turned around, seeing the two nearby the shuttle. Inspecting it was a man who moved with precision, as if the X, Y, and Z axis' were calculated to the decimal, with the least time required.

He was so... Well put together.

What a strange thought.

"Anyway, this is a simple fix," He was continuing, "Expect functionality in approximately fifteen minutes."

"Don't get cocky." Laura wasn't impressed, departing. The icy tone sailed over the man in teal's head, getting started. And for whatever reason, Dave was compelled to approach him.

"Excuse me! Do you work here?" Going with that? Really?

Not turning around, he replied, rather curtly, "Yes." Just as well.

"I figured! So, what do you do? Usually."

"I am a repair technician."

"Ah! You know, I'm a bit of a technician myself!" Good, some common

"I know."

"Huh? But how?"

"There are currently 81 others of you in residence." The man noted, and Dave immediately felt shame creep into his being. He really did forget about that just now. In spite of the transgression, the other finally faced him, revealing a sort of blank expression, as well as more to his attire. Underneath the argyle sweater was a white-collared shirt and a neat, black tie.

This man was so... Well-dressed. And Dave was blowing it. He wanted to leave, and pretend this never happened. But the social rules were not in his favor.

"That said; hi, my name is Billy," Then, with faint sounds that he could've sworn sounded like motorized movement, the other's arm extended out to him for a handshake. "And it's nice to meet you, Dave."

When Dave followed the gesture, the hand was cool, the flesh clearly... Er, unnatural. Was it a prosthetic? That would explain the way he moved, but all of him did so. Was Billy someone who'd lost... Everything?

Dave could relate. Future talking point.

"Oh. Right. Nice to meet you too!" He rebounded at last, and then added, "Anyway, would you like to get a coffee sometime?" The venture was pointless, he knew, but...

"I cannot," Came Billy's answer, "It would ruin my circuits."

"Uh, circuits?"

"I am a robot." It was said so plainly, like it had no deeper meaning. The sky is blue. Billy is a robot. But it absolutely wrecked Dave apart like a full-on collision with a speeding bullet train.

"Oh...! Of course, of course! Well..." He stumbled, feeling like a hopeless mess of decimated polygons. All he knew was that he had to bail. "I... I should probably get going! I'll see you later, okay?" And he's already wasted so much of his time, and this was never going to go anywhere, and why again did Dave even attempt this?!

But he was already off and zooming when Billy replied, still nonchalantly, "Sure, later. Goodbye." When Dave thought he was out of sight, he faintly heard a bit more conversation. "Huh. That's new."

"Seeing that unfold was painful to watch." It seemed like Laura never really left.

"I imagine it would've, considering you don't have eyes." Forget the bullet train, this time the psychic damage was more akin to an entire jet. Billy was so... Well prepared.

"Just fix the damn shuttle."

"Already did." Billy's voice sounded further away, but by then Dave finally made himself scarce.

The rest of the day was spent procrastinating on where to set down his house cube, instead whittling the time away through sightseeing and such. All the while, he tried to purge that encounter earlier from his mind. He nearly did at a few points, but something would always bring it back.

On another note, whenever he saw someone from Fun Algebra Class, he'd hoped, from the back of his mind, that they would recognize him. It appeared that, no matter the amounts of duplicates, all these characters were able to distinguish each other. Unfortunately, Dave couldn't do the same. Perhaps it was an acquired skill.

If any of them would've noticed which Dave he was, they wouldn't have been so friendly. As far as they were concerned, Dave #82 was a clean slate. One in a unique circumstance, but certainly not someone to confront, or avoid. Just a new resident, and possibly a new friend.

He honestly wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not.

It was a star-filled night when he finally decided to plot down his homestead, and even then, he didn't really think about it. It was a sort of, "eh, good enough" scenario. Seeing the way the cube shifted size in such a grandiose manner probably would've looked better in the daytime, but it was what it was.

Ah. It was the one he would've had in... "Dave's House", one of the sequels. However, the major differences were how it contained a single floor, and less rooms. Upon closer inspection, no basement either. It was also furnished well enough, as he stared at the living room couch in contemplation.

Sleep, or not to sleep.

Of course, he had no need to, but sometimes it felt nice. No, the worry was something else. After some more deliberation, he threw himself onto it, drifting off in a matter of minutes.

A sidewalk, of which he was walking down. Brightly did the Sun shine. Dotting the sky, various clouds. A wall, tall and bricked, revealed a tunnel, a road, a path, to somewhere.

DAVE.

A single line of text in his peripheral. And yet, he could hear it. Turning to his side, there stood a female child with long, blonde brunette black green red purple white

Blonde hair. Her features proved difficult to focus on. So he didn't bother.

"Yes, Kelly?" He responded, lightly.

WHERE IS EVERYONE?

"Oh! Probably-" He turned forward again, his school only a few meters away, doors open. "Probably in there! You silly goose, where else would they be? Ha ha!"

WHAT HADPLENNE?D

"They were just-" Inside the school, inside a room, a special door nearby. His words, ravaged and distorted; incomprehensible.

I'M SORY I LEFT YUO AL L ALONE FORE SO LNOG,...

IF I NEWK, I WULD''V LET EBERYONE SLEPP!

Tears. He was lying on his side, feeling like the worst thing to ever exist. Kelly's look upon him seemed forlorn regretful upset angry frustrated worried sad devastated

Regretful.

She was crouching now, eyes on the floor.

"Don't blame yourself. They chose their path."

YOU DONT' DESERCE TO STAY HERE BY YORSELL,

I'LLL BE OK AY. LEAVE THE GAME. FIDN SUMTHHING .BETLER

"Oh, but Kelly, I could never do that...!"

WE BOTH NOW I JUZT DON'T HAVE THY TIIME TO DROP BY ANEYMOER...

IT'S BEN FUNM BUT,,, PLEASE.

The door opened, slowly, silently. The unknown lie in wait.

"... Alright. I'll go. Thank you for everything, Kelly."

GOODBYE, DAVE. I'LL MISS YOU.

Dave woke up; it was noon. Somehow he'd turned onto his back in his sleep. The risk he took made him pay for it. Maybe he shouldn't have asked for the ability to dream.

"You too, Kelly. You too..."

Mustering the mental strength to leave the couch behind was daunting. Only an internalized, half-hearted peptalk was able to help him: C'mon, Dave, it's a new day; and you can't solve your problems by doing nothing.

As he went to leave the house, there was a small package on the mailbox, purple in color. Not in, with the little red flag pointed up, but literally on top of it. Confused, he gave the neighborhood a look-over, picking up the box. Just as he went to read the attached note, he heard a crash.

Startled, he turned to the source, finding a man lying on the sidewalk across the street. Wait, no, not just any man. A Billy? Where'd he come from? Did he fall out of the sky somehow?

Watching him try to get up, he called, "Sir! Are you alright?" The Billy in question continued to struggle. Tabbing away the package, Dave wheeled over to him.

"Yes. I'm fine." He was just as stoic as the last one. It might just be a commonality.

"With all due respect, you don't look it," Dave called his bluff, reaching him. "Do you need any help?"

Billy was holding onto the nearby tree, as he finally regained balance. "No need to concern yourself." He assured, but the moment he let go to walk off, one of his legs bent the wrong way, and he met the concrete again.

"It's your knee! Does it hurt?" It looked like it absolutely would.

"I am incapable of feeling pain."

"... Ah, okay. Well, regardless," Dave then continued, only slightly relieved, "I just don't see you getting too far, in this state. Look, I know I'm being pushy, but could I at least see if I can fix it?" He was sure to get a no, but he waited.

Finally, Billy uttered, "Very well." He managed to crawl over to and lean back against the tree. Surprised from the outcome, Dave couldn't keep from smiling.

"I'll be quick, I promise! Let me just... Hup!" Off the wheelchair he went, to be closer to eye-level with... Well, he supposed his patient now. With swift, practiced motions, he helped guide his legs into a yoga-esque pose, then selected one of his most important items - the toolbox. It was more or less a pocket dimension in there, so its relatively small size was convenient.

The first thing he dug out was hand sanitizer, Billy giving him a curious look. "What's that for?"

"Are germs not a thing here?" It wasn't in his game, but Dave imagined that since this was an entirely different place, anything was possible. Billy's next expression suggested that he didn't know the answer, either. "Still, better safe than sorry, right? I wouldn't want microbes wiggling around in my endoskeleton, ha ha!"

"... Good point." The robot conceded, as Dave finished up. Next was...

"Rubber gloves, check. Goggles, check. Tools, check," This was said in a lower volume, more to himself than anything else. Each item was promptly equipped, except for the last one. Rather, it was to make sure he wasn't missing any. He turned back to Billy, prompting, "Now, let's see where the damage is."

What Dave had noticed throughout his short time here, was that most of the characters he met had rather simple 3D models, like himself. And some others didn't, still possessing their 2D images. As for Billy, he was... Interesting, in the fact that he was unusually articulated. The teal and black zebra-striped trousers weren't just his polygons - it was an actual modeling layer. Therefore, he was able to pull the fabric up, revealing more of that artificial flesh, and more importantly, the injury at hand.

He tried his best to not let this revelation distract him. "I'll admit, I don't know how to repair your... Uh, skin. I've never worked with that material before."

"I can take care of that." Meanwhile, Billy was completely unfazed by all of this. Or he was just a lot better at masking it. Or, third option, he legitimately couldn't feel emotions at all. Whichever it was, Dave decided not to ponder it further.

"Ah, okay! Hm..." Beyond the torn skin, was a metallic casing, with pieces broken off. And underneath that, there was the root of the problem: the joints were completely unhinged. A lot less shocking than it looked. So, he assured, "Yeah, I can work with this! It will require my power tools, though. Maybe we could go inside and-"

While talking, he'd managed to reach inside the wound and carefully excavate the bits and pieces, which luckily had all remained in the area. The worst would've been them falling down to the ankle, causing more tedium than necessary. When mentioning his last statement, he cut himself off upon the sight of Billy reaching into the back of his shirt, pulling out an outlet cover.

Okay, now he was just flabbergasted. "You have... Outlets?!"

"Yes, that is correct." The object was stashed away. Dave cleared his throat, attempting to settle back down.

"Sorry, sorry, I don't mean to be insensitive."

"Don't apologize," The robot's tone remained ever calm, "Oftentimes, it's in case I need to charge, but that has yet to happen." He paused, but seemed to realize something. "And don't worry about using any. My battery can last for a year. I still have several months remaining."

"Whoa... Understood!" Honestly, knowing that was a relief. From the toolbox, Dave got out a power drill. He handed the end of the cord to Billy, who plugged it in. "I'm going to get started now. Try to keep it at a 90 degree angle, okay?" That probably wasn't needed, but it slipped out anyway. Despite it, Billy complied, doing his best; but the injury made it almost impossible. So, with one hand, Dave stabilized the leg, and the other used the drill. More quietly, he said, "I gotcha, don't worry."

Aside from the appliance's whine, silence filled the air as Dave reassembled the joints. Occasionally, he would glance back at Billy, in case there were any changes to his condition. Thankfully, there were none, as he sat there with his hands interlaced in his lap. But more often than not, he caught him staring; he could recognize the unasked questions. While he appreciated the restraint in inquiring outright, it was there, and he knew it.

Well, here goes.

"It was a rocket ship accident." Dave admitted, and honestly, it was almost out of the blue. Much like yesterday's "I am a robot" from the Billy he met, Dave's statement held that plain delivery.

"Huh?" For the first time, it got a reaction from his patient - the knowledge of being found out. Even so, it didn't really bother Dave insomuch that it was an unfortunate inevitability.

"Oh, sorry. It's just... I know that look," He clarified, then explained, "Anyway, when it crashed, it broke every bone in my legs, in multiple places. I was offered crutches, but those didn't help me as much as my wheelchair. They did eventually heal, and in fact, I can even still use them! But, physical therapy wasn't working out, so I gave up."

"When I first became self-aware, I wondered why I was made like that," He continued after a short pause, still putting the joints together, "But that was so long ago! I'm over it now. Hm... What about you, if I may ask?" Now that it was out of the way, there was no better time to shift focus.

"Grateful. And that's because multiple games were made." Billy didn't hesitate, as though he realized the same thing.

"Oh, wow!"

"Captain Gonzalo, who my father works with alongside his crew, from in his submarine," The robot went on, "Then, there's Denied, who likes living out in the sea. We're... Like brothers." There was a hint of affection in his voice.

"And the captain, well, I've found myself calling him 'Uncle Gonzalo'," More of it was leaking out as he spoke. "Even though I'm not technically related to either of them. They just mean a lot to me. I'm not sure what I'd do without them all."

This Billy practically had a whole family. He was so... Well made. Dave was hit with a small, but unpleasant pang of jealousy. Once more, the inner peptalk helped him push it out: No. Don't let that get to you; you're better than this. It's not worth it. Let go, Dave. Let go.

Instead, he replied, "Aw, that's so sweet. I'm glad you have that."

More silence followed, until Billy broke it. "If you're curious, I'm also without my cast."

"Huh? You are?"

"We arrived together, but then I told them, 'Be free.' I see them every once in a while, but they're independent now."

"Oh my. I don't suppose there's been a case where a Dave-less ensemble's come by, has there?" The question came out automatically. Billy thought about it.

"That has not been documented."

"Right, I didn't think so," Dave suppressed the urge to sigh, or even lessen his grin. That was out of the question. "All I can say is that my separation wasn't as mutually decided. I haven't seen them for over two weeks. And I can't help but wonder where they are now, how they're doing." Probably better off without him, but he didn't dare say that aloud.

"Anyway!" He semi-forced a brighter inflection, as fortunate timing allowed him to change the topic. "I think I got it! Try now!" Everything really did appear to be back in place. Looking back at Billy, he saw him blink, unplugging Dave's drill.

"... Oh. I shall." As he got up, he had little trouble. He made it to a full standing position, then walked away by several meters. He stopped, turned, then sprinted back to Dave, who almost fell backwards from the speed, but caught himself with his arms.

"I am able to retain a balance percentage of ninety-seven," Billy then reported, clearly in better shape than previously. "It's a vast improvement."

"... Great! Alright," Dave collected himself, as Billy went back into his earlier position, this time more effortlessly. "Now to weld these pieces back together. Then the sanding, the buffing, the putting back ins - you know how it goes." He wasn't sure exactly why he felt the need to list out the procedures. But, it was just distracting enough for Dave to get out each appropriate tool, including a welder's mask, as well as the remaining broken pieces.

By the time he was set up, he heard a metallic snap and saw Billy handing him the casing in question. It took all of his willpower to not react, let alone sneak a glance at what Billy's calf looked like without it.

Dave got to it, mask pulled down to shield his face. "Gracious, where are my manners? I'm a new Dave around these parts. 82, they said. Though, I did meet a Billy yesterday, so I have an idea of who you are!"

"We met yesterday." It almost sounded matter-of-factually, but also like a question, somehow.

"Yes, that's right!"

"I mean, I'm the same one." Oh, God. It was hard for Dave to keep composure with that information. Unfortunately, the welding was already done. He had no choice but to remove the mask, starting to even out the welded bumps with sandpaper.

"What? Really...?! Wow, I...!" He failed to hold back his shame. "Sorry about before, then. I sure made a real fool of myself. But in hindsight..." Billy would've known what a Dave was like, of course the outcome was fated from the start, and why oh why was everything circling back to it?!

"I disagree," His patient then admitted, "I was intentionally being obtuse. So I thought that a house-warming gift would help make up for it. Truth is, you are the first Dave to really speak to me."

It was worse than he imagined. But if anything, Dave appreciated the honesty. "I see... The other mes are that bad, huh?" Okay, now to buff. It was almost over, and then the two can finally part ways. Except- Did he mention a gift? Was that what the purple package was all about?!

"No, not 'bad'," Billy shook his head, having noticed the unintended connotation. "They are generally cordial, but also absent-minded. They remind me of how I once was, and I don't like it." It was difficult to see Billy that way, but Dave took his word for it. Perhaps... Things weren't as bad as he thought.

"That does sound infuriating! I really don't want to be like that. I hope not." Soon after those words, Dave was finished at long last, giving the casing back to Billy. Apparently, Dave had gone the extra mile and buffed the entire segment, causing it to glint in the sunlight. Maybe it was just him, but he could swear the robot was in awe, even if only a little.

After Billy re-attached it, Dave added, "That should hold together until you get home. How're you feeling?"

"Exemplary," Was Billy's simple response as he slid his trousers back down. He got up again, unplugging Dave's last power tool at the same time, then securing the protective cover once more. "Thank you for the repairs. How can I repay you?"

"Oh, it's no trouble at all! Don't worry about it!" Dave was modest in declining, putting everything away, and then settling back into his wheelchair. Billy tilted his head, then shrugged.

"If you insist," He acknowledged, "I'm going to leave now, but I hope you enjoy the gift." He gave a very short wave. "See you around." From his back appeared a jetpack, it promptly lifting him off the ground. There was no visible fuel being used, and yet, it worked perfectly. It left Dave wide-eyed and jaw dropped. Still, he returned the wave.

Very quickly did Billy fly off, Dave now on his own again. His thoughts drifted back to the package, bringing it out. The note read,

TO DAVE (82),

I'M SORRY ABOUT YESTERDAY. I KNEW WHAT YOU MEANT, AND YET I CHOSE TO EMBARRASS YOU. PLEASE ACCEPT THIS AS A TOKEN OF GOODWILL.

YOU CAN ALWAYS REACH ME USING THIS PHONE NUMBER: 099-555-1150

FROM BILLY

Oh gracious, Dave needed a phone, now. But first, the box. Inside was a small bonsai tree. At this point, he'd audibly yelled, racing inside his house to find a good spot to set it. The coffee table would do for now, he thought. But it was so precious, it almost drove him to tears.

"Dave? Are you in there?" Billy was back? He probably forgot something. But when Dave turned to the source of the robot's voice, he'd realized that he'd left the door open in his haste.

"... Yes! What is it?" He promptly pulled himself together, and moved to the entrance. Out behind the fenced segments, each labelled "GATE", Billy stood, unable to look Dave in the eyes. Strange.

Finally, he asked, "Would you still want to get that coffee?"

"Even though you can't?" Dave couldn't help his slight skepticism, but it was in genuine concern.

"Affirmative. I don't mind." A smile was peeking at Billy's face. If Dave was still dreaming right now, he did not want to wake up. Still, he pinched his cheek to be sure, and nothing happened, aside from Billy noticing, but deciding not to ask.

"Well, then...! Yes!" It was really happening. He couldn't believe it. How could things get any better?! As Dave shut the door to join him, Billy's smile grew more full, starting to ease up.

"While there are many cafes in the commercial zone," He then replied, "I believe I may know a few you may enjoy. If you like, I can fly us there."

Fly. Dave was on cloud nine right now. And with that, a completely unrestrained, ecstatic "Please do!" fell out of his mouth. Arms extended, Billy brought him upright.

"... You are taller than me." He noted. Dave let that sink in, then laughed, using the robot's support to put away his wheelchair.

"It would seem so!"

Chapter Text

Aldurra was awoken by an alarm, one that was piercingly loud. He'd jumped from the surprise. The lighting had all but gone to a red tint, making it difficult to see. He could hear clanging from the elevator shaft, as if someone was brute-forcing their way up. Eventually, he saw the doors part open, manually.

On the other side, was an Alex. As soon as the two saw each other, he formed a face-splitting grin.

"Ahh! There you are!" He jumped into the room, bounding over to him. "I've been meaning to welcome you, but, as you can tell, it hasn't been easy! Luckily, Billy's taking a nice, long nap, so… Welcome!" He paused to giggle. "Now then, why don't we have a chat while we get outta this wretched dump?"

No, not just an Alex. The Alex. The one that robot told him about, and kept him from finding. The one responsible for their shared imprisonment. The one who ruined everything. Aldurra could still recall it like it was yesterday.

"Shit! What was that?!" Aldurra was asking, after having almost lost balance from the sudden impact. Nearby was Dolly, who was as concerned as he was.

"I think we hit something!" Candice called from afar. "You think they're okay?"

"After taking the full force of a school down the highway? Doubt it," Aldurra sighed, but moved to the entrance. "Still, I'm gonna go check it out."

When he made it outside, there wasn't much to look at, in terms of surroundings. Oddly enough, the Internet didn't look like much of anything; just a giant blackened void with streaks of white every so often, signifying a single entity surfing it. However, on the far corner of the lawn, there was someone holding onto the edge.

"Oh, hey there! You know, you should really watch where you're going! That could've been pretty nasty!" When Aldurra got close, it was revealed to be an Alex. There'd been no sign of a game collision, meaning that this guy was a rogue.

"Oh, damn. Sorry about that," Aldurra admitted, extending a scythed arm. "You good, buddy? Hurt anywhere? Need anything?" Alex took the offered help, standing fully on the grass, as though unharmed.

In response, he hummed. "Full-time demon, huh? No judgments or anything, I mean, it's a good look for us. Also… Yes. I could go for some fresh meat."

"Welp, we're all out right now," What weird things to say right off the bat, but Aldurra played along. Turning back to the front doors of the school, he asked aloud, "How far are we from the nearest butcher site?" Once an answer was given, he motioned for Alex to follow him inside. "You can bum a lift 'til then, okay? Sit tight."

"Sure thing, other me." This was probably a terrible idea, but his game did just hit him, so... Still, Aldurra would have to keep an eye on him.

It wasn't until they were off and going again, and some time had passed, before Alex began to wander. Aldurra followed from afar, not sure if his counterpart was up to something. After a while, he saw him pause at a room, where Candice and Asmodena were hanging out. The two were nigh inseparable as of late.

"Excuse me, ladies! But I couldn't help but wonder about something," He spoke to them, tone seemingly normal, but Aldurra could sense more within it. "I'm curious about how our games differ! You see, in mine, Asmodena never got to control her powers! How far along are you?"

This wasn't something anyone ought to ask a stranger, and so out of left field.

"I'm, uh… Still not very good with them." Asmodena admitted, with a surprising amount of calmness.

"Oh, that's a shame! Say, what if I gave you a tip or two? From one demon to another? Just come over here and take my hand…" Candice wasn't finding this worrisome, either. Without hesitation, Asmodena got up from her chair and approached.

That son of a bitch was possessing them. Aldurra let out a shriek of a warcry, rushing toward Alex before he had the chance to do anything further. He rammed into his other self with all he had, he letting out a yell of shock from the impact. It immediately ended the spell, Asmodena dashing back into the room, Candice clinging to her.

"RUN! Find Dolly and Ms. Immortal! NOW!" Aldurra commanded, both the fairy and demon taking off. He turned back to Alex, pinning him to the wall. "You bastard. Just couldn't fucking wait, could you?"

Then, to his surprise, Alex laughed, not remorseful at all. "Is that what you think that was? Oh, no no no. I said what I meant, and you lied to me. You had meat all along, and you let it get away."

Aldurra snapped, trying to tear into him, but Alex formed his own scythes and, with incredible ease, pushed the other off of him. "Just for that, I'm going to kill all of you. Make it worth my time, okay?"

"... Yes. Let's." Aldurra agreed, a low growl escaping. Alex was unfazed, bringing his hands together in utter glee.

"Excellent!" He trotted over to a control panel, as if knowing how it worked. But to his credit, one of the 'glass' walls swung open for the other demon. "Now, I know we could just call the elevator, but… Climbing was so much more fun; you should try it!"

What Alex had said was true - not the climbing part, frankly Aldurra could care less - very quickly did he see Billy, deactivated. Then another, and another, and another. Okay, Aldurra already got that there were more than one, but just how many of him were there?!

And good lord, he'd nearly forgotten the tendency to have purple… Well, everything, when it came to interior design.

"Anyway, it's nice to finally meet you, Alex!" Alex was saying, "There's something I'd like to talk to you about; it concerns this place, and how we should fit in it!"

"Actually…" Aldurra replied, eyes narrowing. The pause made Alex turn in curiosity. "I remember you. You're the one who did it."

"Eh? You're going to have to be more specific than that. I've done lots of things!"

The altercation was not going well. It felt like this was far from the first time Alex had done something like this. In fact, Aldurra was willing to bet that this was a regular activity for this megalomaniac. It would explain how he was so skilled, so durable, so powerful, much more than an Alex usually would be.

Yet, he kept trying, no matter what. Even if it really hurt getting up, even if he was stumbling.

Then, just as Alex aimed for his head, his scythe was caught in several black threads, then pulled far away from him. Meters away was Dolly, who sent Alex flying into Ms. Immortal's broom, striking like a batter hitting a home run. In the end, the assailant crashed into the wall.

"Jesus Christ," Aldurra muttered, joining them as quickly as he could. "Thanks, but we gotta get out of here, and fast. He'll get us all if we don't."

"JUST THROW HIM OVERBOARD," Ms. Immortal suggested, "OUR CURRENT VELOCITY EXCEEDS HIS TOP SPEED."

"Yes, but that involves weakening him first, which…" Dolly inputted, grimacing as Alex started getting up again. "Looks unlikely. Maybe if I tie him up…"

"No! You have to listen to me!" Aldurra was losing his patience, "We can't hope to beat this asshole! I don't even know how I'm still standing!"

"But if we leave the game, we can't come back."

"Then…!" He groaned to himself, but couldn't come up with anything else. Meanwhile, Alex charged, the three of them preparing for an onslaught. They did everything they could to keep up with him, to counter, to anything, but it was futile in the end.

Alex severed Dolly's arms, broke Ms. Immortal's broom, and soon enough, Aldurra was cornered. Alex taunted, "You're not very good at this, are you? So disappointing!"

Then, there was the sound of a freezing soda can being opened. Aldurra saw the giant snowflake careening right for the both of them, shoving his other self into it. He was frozen solid. Fifteen seconds. Make it count.

"Tell everyone to hide! I'll toss him out!" Ms. Immortal was picking up Dolly's arms, then Dolly herself, when Aldurra ordered. However, it was neither of them who used the soda - as the demon scanned the area, there was Scrina, still in the firing position, practically quaking in fear.

Holy shit, Scrina. He'd nearly forgotten about her. Then, his mind went to the protagonist, defaultly known as Olivia. Without a player to assume control, she (or they) was but a lifeless husk. In other words, easy prey for someone like Alex.

Once able to stand on her own, Dolly watched Ms. Immortal scoop up the petrified little robot and leave the hallway; most likely to wherever the others were. Aldurra wasn't paying attention, however, as he dragged Alex toward the front doors with his teeth.

"You're not going to make it in time!" She was warning him.

"Just DO IT!" He growled, with an all-too-familiar layer of demonic persuasion.

"Fine!" Dolly cringed, managing to fight off the attempt. "Just stay out of our heads!" At last, she too sprinted away.

Outside. Aldurra tried to lift Alex over his head, but he thawed out, piercing Aldurra in the side. With a painful yell, he dropped him. Alex rolled to a stand, more and more of his own true form revealing itself.

"It doesn't matter what they do; we both know where they are, Alex." He was cackling.

"That's not my name, jackass," The other stood his ground, trying to pool some of his resources together to block the sheer agony he was in. "It's Â̶͎l̵̗͑d̴̲͒ū̷ͅṛ̵̎r̴̯͠a̸̙̐. So if you're going to insult me, you better use it."

Alex frowned, then tsked. "God, you've fallen so far, for a me. How many Alexes do you suppose would do such a thing? The full-time demon appearance, sure, but THAT… Explains a lot." He paused, giving him a condescending look.

"Â̶͎l̵̗͑d̴̲͒ū̷ͅṛ̵̎r̴̯͠a̸̙̐, and I mean this in the most factual way possible," Alex then continued, with perfect pronunciation, "But you're a fucking disgrace. I almost feel too above killing you, but someone has to. Alas! But, I'm sure the rest of my selves would view my deed as amicable, so… Just don't be boring."

"You're the one who invaded my game," Aldurra elaborated, remembering each moment with contempt, then rage, "The others escaped, but you chased them. You pretended that they were yours, and then you…!" With one of his scythes, he clawed at the floor, unable to continue.

Alex "hmm"ed in thought, before his eyes lit up. "Ohhh! You're that one! Wow, I thought for sure you died! Well, since that's the case…" His form changed, closer to his true one, a half-and-half look. "You're still on my shitlist, Â̶͎l̵̗͑d̴̲͒ū̷ͅṛ̵̎r̴̯͠a̸̙̐. No fucking way I'd ever work with you!"

The two fought, clashing against the other. Just as expected, Alex still had a lot more prowess, but at least this time, Aldurra knew what to expect. He managed to bite his arm, hard, throwing him at the nearest window. Unlike whatever material Billy (or the Billys? He wasn't sure how to refer to him) used on his cell, this was glass, plain and simple.

It shattered, Alex easily landing outside. Before he got the opportunity to get up, Aldurra was upon him, ignoring the shards, debris, and snow (though, he couldn't help noticing the stronger chill in the air - it'd gotten colder since he first got here). He reeled back to attack, but Alex dodged, slashing at his torso, then kicking the other demon off of him. Their altercation continued, taking them through the boardwalk, then all the way into a much more populated area.

Civilians (including, somehow, some Human-looking entities?) hastily fled for their safety. However, a few of the latter stuck around, not taking this seriously at all. The two could hear their commentary, no matter how far away, or how low their voices were.

"Oh my God! Are you seeing this?!"

"Yeah, no worries, I'm recording it now."

"WHOA! I thought there weren't any Alexes in the game! Did we get a secret update or something?!"

"Fucking Humans…" Alex growled under his breath, but ignored them afterwards, slamming Aldurra into a lamp post. It knocked the wind out of him, just barely managing to rise again. He could only numb things so much; he couldn't afford to be physically impeded.

"Hey! Up there! Is that…?"

Another of the spectators laughed. "Uh oh, Viktor and friends are gonna clean house!"

"Hold up, I have that rooftop over there in my favorites. Follow me!"

While Aldurra wasn't able to understand the majority of their lingo, the name they mentioned rang a bell. And right on cue, four characters landed nearby, and they were all quite strong - Marzia, Alice, and even Erie. Accompanying them, was the main man himself, axe held over his shoulder.

"Oh. Shit." Aldurra whispered to himself, paralyzed by the mere sight of them all. Alex, on the other hand, simply guffawed, approaching with open arms, as though meeting up with old friends. It was like their quarrel was forgotten.

"Viktor! So you finally came out to play!" He cooed in greeting, completely unhindered, "And I see you brought friends! Well, you know what they say: The more, the merrier!"

"Exercise extreme caution," Viktor ignored him, instead glancing briefly at his faculty entourage, "Keep your guards up, especially in the mind. And if necessary, kill them." They all nodded, ready for battle. Viktor slung his axe into position, it and his eyes' ring-like irises adopting a glowing golden color. "This ends now."

The four of them charged, Marzia reaching Alex first well before the others, blindsiding him with a kick so powerful it sent him into the nearest building. She followed however, not letting him have any means of escape. Next came Alice, who targeted Aldurra, her four, clawed arms prepared to slice him to pieces. All he could do was try to stay out of the way, blocking when it wasn't possible.

Rushing past them both was Viktor, deciding that Alex was the bigger threat of the situation. Last was Erie, who wheeled up from behind. While still trying to deal with Alice, Aldurra felt himself being lifted off the ground by the arms, Erie's robotic hands as cold as ice.

"So, what's his deal?" Alice inquired, her stance on the defensive. She sounded like two different voices were talking at the same time.

"Nothing!" Aldurra yelled out, struggling, "Nothing to do with any of you! Just that piece of shit over there!" Without his arms, he gestured with his head, at the direction of where Alex, Marzia, and Viktor were fighting. He felt a presence entering his brain, perusing his thoughts and memories. It was Erie.

The nearest site was reached, and with it, no doubt a means to enter it. Unlike the Internet itself, websites took on physical forms, often based on whatever they were supposed to represent.

But, unfortunately, he was still fighting Alex. And losing.

"Forgive me," He murmured, then raised his voice. This time, the added layer of possessing was much more pronounced and intentional. "There's no other way. Leave the game behind. Stay together, and find somewhere safe. I hope we can meet again."

"Pff, sappy," Alex smirked, but was undeterred. By this point, Aldurra was probably close to dying, but if his counterpart was to be believed, he very well could. Not long after, their surroundings began to glitch. "Bad move, though! Looks like you'll be going down with the ship!"

Alex got the upperhand, impaling Aldurra to the ground. He couldn't even cry out in pain anymore. In this situation, there were no other options left, but to play dead. He kept his eyes open, watching his duplicate from his peripheral. He seemed to be trying something, but whatever it was didn't work.

"Huh. Maybe the game's too fucked up. Ah, well. I don't need you, anyway." Alex pulled his scythe out, turning both back into normal hands, walking away. He was heard jumping off the lawn, leaving entirely. Aldurra waited. Some more. Even longer. All that greeted him was silence. Finally, he gasped a breath, then immediately regretted it, hissing from the newest wound. He curled up on his side, eyes squeezed shut, repeating expletives.

By the time he was able to attempt standing again, the school and outdoor area was barely recognizable. Was this because everyone took Olivia with them? He thought for sure Tom patched that out… Fuck. This catastrophe would just devastate him, Aldurra knew it.

He glanced over at a mound in the opposite corner to where Alex was initially found. He limped his way over, gazing upon the decorated stone that was simply engraved with, "ALEX".

"Was that you? I, uh… I still don't know if you actually exist or not, but… If that was a sign, you really saved my ass back there." No response, and of course there wouldn't be. Aldurra may as well be talking to himself - well, actually himself this time. Regardless, he sighed.

"Look, I understand. This whole place wasn't your idea. Maybe… Once it's all gone, you'll finally be free? Or something?" Still, there was nothing.

"Anyway… I swear I'll find everyone, and make sure that douchebag doesn't get anywhere near them again! And if he tries…" He paused, realizing how little time he had to escape. "Well, I guess this is goodbye. Whatever awaits us at the end of existence, I hope yours is absolutely wonderful. It better be. So long, Alex."

He gave the mound a soft pat with the blunt side of his scythe, then headed in the direction of the website he was now parked at. Yup, a butchery. Damn. He supposed he could go for some meat, too. Might help with the injuries.

As he left the school and game behind, he forced himself to not look back, even when he heard the glitching amplify with sounds, a ringing tone signifying a crash, then dissipation as it died. Finally, there was nothing else.

"Get out of my head!" Aldurra warned with a growl.

"He's telling the truth," Erie answered Alice, "Still, he should be apprehended."

"I'll do whatever you want, just don't kill me!"

"He's… Surrendering?" Alice's expression bore confusion.

"Yes, I'm fucking surrendering!" On second thought, he wished he didn't sound so desperate.

"Wow. That makes our job a little easier, then." The much taller robot keeping him restrained nodded to herself. Alice, in spite of Erie's confirmation, remained skeptical. She pulled out what appeared to be a bear trap, though there were no teeth to it. Once it was set up, Erie dropped Aldurra right onto it, snagging his ankle.

"JESUS-!"

"We'll deal with you soon," Alice then demanded, "You stay right. There." Without waiting for a response, the two ran off to join the rest of the team.

"To be honest, I don't think he could kick our asses even at his peak," Erie commented, "But that one… Remember, on your toes." Aldurra watched on, suddenly surprised to find that Alex was still able to hold his own.

"No! We're losing Marzia!" The sight was gruesome. But the giant robot lady didn't bat an eye, taking out some kind of item and throwing it at Marzia. Upon contact, she disappeared.

"She'll be fine!" Even the three of them had a hard time keeping Alex down. However, while distracting him, Viktor came rushing in, gold-colored axe at the ready. He sliced Alex's right arm clean off. That gave them the opening they needed to finally put him away.

Admittedly, there was a legend Aldurra heard once, in his Internet travels. Though, it was unconfirmed and possibly untrue. But rumor has it that anything cut off with Viktor's axe cannot grow back.

And that was hardcore.

Chapter Text

"Well, it says here," Dave read out, "'Pick up the left hand, and form the specified gesture. Hold for five seconds. If you hear a chime, the boot-up process has successfully begun. If not, there may be internal damage to the vessel. Find another.'"

"And?" The adult Human player inquired, brow quirked. She came here as soon as she could, after Dave sent her that urgent DM. It was still a bit of a wonder, how the Webspace could also function like a game, particularly to Humans - a social MMO of some kind.

Needless to say, she wasn't happy to find Billy's home in such a messed up state. Normally, her auburn hair was in a tidy updo, glasses neatly in place, but it was the middle of the night, so only the latter had been thrown on.

Right now, the three of them were in what was once the detention room of Billy's house; Dave was looking through a text file on the computer, while Sam was knelt in front of one of the many Billys scattered throughout the place. He was leaning against the wall, but sitting upright.

"That's just it, there is no 'and'!" Dave sighed, "Nowhere does it say what gesture to make! You'd think it'd be important…" The player thought about this, until an idea formed. Taking Billy's left hand as instructed, she posed it into some kind of… Peace sign, maybe? Dave wasn't sure.

After the allotted time, they both heard the Windows 7 startup sound. The girl huffed in laughter. "Aw, the OS I had when we first met. I can't believe he remembered." Meanwhile, Dave was dumbfounded.

"... Sam, how did you know that would work?" In response, she shook her head.

"He really likes his Star Trek." The statement made everything click.

"That's right!" Soon after saying that, he joined Sam as Billy began to flicker to life. "Billy? Can you hear me? It's me, Dave!"

"Heyyy, 'buddy'. You in there?" Sam tried as well, slipping in a bit of Lithuanian. While Dave was still a beginner, he managed to understand.

Billy's focus reached them, stiffening slightly. "H-... Hello, Dave. Sam." A pause, turning confused with a glance at the latter. "Wait. What're you doing here?"

The other two pulled back to give him more space. "Can I show him?" Sam asked Dave, and he readily nodded. With his permission, she forwarded the very short DM conversation to Billy's. "Well, this happened."

Samanessa🕹️ (@Samanessa) [2:32 AM]

Dave_Oddity!🧰 (@DAVE_82) [11:24 PM]
Alex escaped again, but he somehow managed to knock out every single one of Billy's selves. There's a way to wake them up, but I'm having a hard time figuring it out. Would you be able to lend a hand? Respond when you can, anything would help.

Samanessa🕹️ (@Samanessa) [2:13 AM]
sorry im late
still need help?

Dave_Oddity!🧰 (@DAVE_82) [2:14 AM]
Yes, please!

Samanessa🕹️ (@Samanessa) [2:14 AM]
ill be right over

When Billy read the messages, he stood immediately. "Alex! Where did he…!" He started to march off somewhere, but was stopped when Dave took him by the hand, just firmly enough to grab his attention.

"Wait, Billy!" He then said, trying to assure him, "Alex's been taken care of, don't worry! Everyone's safe!"

"Yeah, and people made videos on it," Sam added, leading the three of them to the living room, using the TV. "It's, uh, pretty wild? Strobovski boy's gonna have a hard time PRing this one." While she was setting up one in particular, Dave and Billy sat together on the couch. Then she joined them, on Billy's opposite side.

She played it. Billy's eyes were glued to the screen. It depicted Alex and Aldurra fighting in the commercial zone. In the midst of that, Viktor, Marzia, Alice, and Erie practically landed from the sky. While Aldurra was quickly put into custody, Alex put up much more of a fight. In the end, Marzia was greatly injured, but they were victorious.

As the footage ended, all Billy could comment was a simple, but stunned nonetheless, "Oh my God."

It was only now that Dave realized that he'd never let go of Billy's hand, as he felt it squeeze his own. Not that Dave could blame him; this was a lot to take in. And still… Gracious, there was more he had to tell him. But, one thing at a time.

"Seriously," Sam nodded in agreement. "I gotta say, I don't know how you managed to put up with them for so long. Even with multiples of you at once. Oh, speaking of, uh… You can still wake them up, right?" Silence, as Billy looked into it. The look on his face turned even more disheartened, though to many it wouldn't have been easy to notice.

His tone made it a little more obvious. "... I can, all except for one. I remember Alex trying to possess me, wanting me to shut myself down. While he definitely succeeded, I worry he might've done worse to the remaining vessel."

As he was talking, a few more Billys passed by the room, starting to survey the house. Yet, the one sitting with Dave and Sam continued the conversation. "Regardless, I'm now out of sync with it. I can fix that, but it'll be tedious."

"Well, the important thing is that you're alright." Dave mentioned, comfortingly. He… Found that he didn't have the heart to bring up the other bit of news. It would only make things worse, wouldn't it? But he had to; it was an order…

"That's true," Billy blinked, but nodded with a small smile. "Thank you, both of you. Is there any way I can repay-"

"No, you can't, so don't bother trying." Sam interrupted jokingly, giving his arm a harmless punch.

"Curses. Foiled again," This time, Billy was pretending to be upset. Dave couldn't help but grin, and it was all he could do to hold in his laughter. Then, Billy added, "Anything else I need to know?" Dave couldn't answer, so Sam did first.

"Oh, yeah," She looked over at him, asking, "You wanna tell him, or…?"

He may as well. It wouldn't be right to throw this kind of responsibility onto her. "I will. Billy…" He trailed off, turning to him. With their hands still held, he lay the other on top, then gathered all his courage to look Billy in the eyes. He was already growing concerned, but there was no turning back now.

"Viktor wants you to see him in his office in the morning. Eight o'clock."

All was quiet, to the point where Dave realized that the other Billys were trying to repair the house - and even their noises stopped. It was nearly a minute before they continued on, and Billy replied.

"'Oh, fuck me.'" In Lithuanian.

Dave proceeded to stay with him the rest of the night, when Sam logged off. She didn't request it, but he told her he would. "Thank you for coming by on such short notice. I'll watch over him for now."

Even with her more laid-back nature, her appreciation was clear. "Yeah, no biggie. I don't got anything going on tomorrow, so I'll be there. Night, Dave!"

The two waved. "Goodnight, Sam! See you then!"

The uncertainty was a heavy weight on Billy's mind, Dave could tell, even as he effortlessly fixed up his house and window with his fellow selves. In fact, that was probably meant to be a distraction, and again, Dave couldn't blame him. Whatever Viktor had to say, with this formal intent, it wasn't exactly cause for celebration.

There was nothing he could do to lift his spirits, or truly ease his mind. But, he would be there for him. At least then, he won't be alone with an endless stream of anxiety-riddled thoughts. And, he would hold onto him from in their bed, until the timekeeper of the Webspace struck 7 AM.

It was a wonder how he didn't doze off.

Getting to the building was easy, which Dave had long ago come to know as Viktor's "Infinity School". No, the hard part was waiting, as they each sat in a chair outside Viktor's office. By now, all of them were antsy. The sheer elegance of the whole place wasn't helping. It felt as though the three of them had wandered somewhere they clearly didn't belong.

Okay, maybe Billy, but that was just because of how he always maintained his… Well put together attire. It'd be reasonable to wonder how in the world he chose Dave, but the truth was, Billy wasn't "fancy" despite the appearance. As for the other two? Both clashed in their own ways - Sam liked her casual hoodies, and Dave was… Well, Dave.

On the dot, Billy was called away. Dave wasn't sure if he was permitted to eavesdrop, so he pretended he wasn't, idly thumbing through some magazine.

"You wished to see me, Mr. Strobovski?" So nervous, close to shaking.

"Yes, Billy. Please, sit," A pause. "I assume you're aware of what occurred last night?"

"Yes, sir."

"He has broken through your defenses. It will happen again."

"It's possible."

"'Possible'?! Possible?!" A third voice piped up, offended. "Just cut to the chase, already! I can't believe we even have to do this!"

Viktor sighed. "Erie, you and I have talked it over-"

"Can you count the amount of times he's almost caused havoc?! And the amount of times where he has?! No, don't fucking answer, that was a rhetorical question!"

"You promised you wouldn't get angry."

"I've wanted to look into that monster ever since he was locked away! But 'Nooo, Erie, he might possess you!' Ha, as if we don't already know how to deal with that! But within ten. Minutes, of him being in our hands, I finally figured out what he did to Scrina! No thanks to you!"

"Please, Erie. We didn't call him here just to drag him through the vines." Vines? Didn't Viktor mean "mud"? Oh, wait… Dave remembered. Nevermind.

"Fine, then. But know this, Billy: You're a real piece of shit." From the corner of his eye, Dave saw Erie leave the room, and surprisingly, she appeared pretty proud of herself, as though she'd been holding that in for a long time. Truthfully, these kinds of skirmishes weren't much of his business, but the ensuing fallout most definitely was.

However, she was way too scary to consider talking to - she could punt him clear out into the ocean, regardless if she was using her wheel, like now, or legs. So, Dave made the wise decision in acting like he didn't notice her at all. And thankfully, she was too happy to give him the time of day.

However, upon looking at Sam, he knew it took a lot more restraint for her. She must've heard everything. While she was pretty fearless, it was easy to be, from her perspective. If anything happened to her avatar, her actual Human self would be just fine. Still, he got her attention, and shook his head with an "It's not worth it" expression.

"Sorry about her. She was never the same after the incident," Viktor finally continued, then a beat of silence. "But she does raise a good point, one that I also realized. Under your watch, you've had to repeatedly drag him back to his prison, and don't think I've forgotten your last report."

"I understand. We need new measures," Billy managed to say, "I will better fortify my mind, so that he cannot do this again. I will make his containment unit stronger than he is. I will keep him sated with more meat rations. I will not rest, I have no need-"

"Billy," Viktor's tone was stern now. "Look at you. You've run yourself ragged, to the point where all the things you've designed with him in mind have started to fail. You learn, but so does he. I can't allow you to continue this cycle. I have to let you go."

Billy didn't respond.

"Please, don't think of it as punishment. It's really more like… Relief. Starting now, Alex is no longer your concern."

"... And Aldurra?"

"Him too. You can just… Go on home. See your family. Hang out with your friends. Date your boyfriend. Be a repair technician. Whatever you want, it doesn't matter. Look." He stopped for a moment. "I know we can't exactly go back to how life was before, but now, I'm giving you the chance to try and live it again."

Billy was quiet. Then, there was a very soft, "Yes, sir."

"Take care of yourself, Billy. You're dismissed."

When asked how things went, Dave was sure that the both of them saw how quickly Billy covered up his true reaction, on a dime, even. His voice, too, had a faux-content inflection as he answered, "Well, I have a lot more free time now."

"Wow, that's… Awful." Sam wasn't buying it.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Was Billy's retort, as the three of them left, "This is a good thing. I will never again have to worry about him."

"Yup, definitely Billese for, 'This is the worst day of my life, and I refuse to acknowledge it in front of you.'" The player whispered to Dave. He nodded solemnly. He couldn't have put it better himself.

"I can still hear you."

"Shit."

The three of them spent the rest of the day together, and the entire time, Billy kept that act up. Frankly, Dave couldn't understand such persistence. If it were him, he'd crack like an eggshell. But that night, after Sam had to go, Billy practically deflated, citing, "I don't want to go home."

It probably meant that there would be too much there to remind him of what he used to be tasked with - well, assuming he went to his lab, and… Yup, he'd absolutely go there.

"How do you feel about my place?" Dave offered, lightly. If not him, then perhaps somewhere very different, such as Denied's underwater dome, or heck maybe even see Shy John or

"That's fine with me." Oh. Okay then.

Even now, Dave's house was quite simplistic, with only minor additions from the time he'd spent living here. Aside from discovering a secret attic at some point (a panel in the living room floor rose him into it one day, don't ask), it was still at its default blueprint. Definitely not well-built like Billy's, but Dave knew his limits; he was an engineer, after all, not an architect.

Still, it seemed to be exactly what Billy was looking for - a change of scenery. "Thank you for letting me stay. I promise to not be a burden."

Dave… Hadn't heard that last part in a long time. It was abundantly clear that Billy was hurting. Yet, it was up to him whether or not he wanted to hash out his feelings. "Oh, it's no trouble at all. And don't say that about yourself."

The night wore on, and the two winded down. Eventually, both were in Dave's bed. Billy lay, staring at the ceiling, while Dave was upright, reading a book. The only noise was the AC, set to heating, that Dave liked using this time of year. Yet, it didn't feel like much.

That, and he was struggling with immersing himself with the aforementioned book. If anything, he hoped that he could

"Dave," Finally, Billy spoke up to ask, "Am I a piece of shit?" Oh, there it is.

"No, you're not." The answer came easily to him, but it was sincere.

"... And you're positive?"

"As a plus sign!" Dave gave him a humored smile. Billy tried to return it, but failed. "I heard what happened. You can talk about it if you want."

It only took a second, for Billy to decide, "I think I will."

With that, Dave bookmarked the page he was on, and shut the book, despawning it. He turned to Billy. "Alright! I'm all ears!" This time, it made him grin, a little. Then, it fell again.

"I feel worthless," He explained, lifting his hands to look at them, "Like nothing I do matters anymore. And it's weird, because I should be happy. Alex was the worst thing I've ever had to deal with, and yet… I miss it. It's as if he's still in my mind, even though I know he's not." He paused, dropping them back down, glancing over at Dave in concern. "Something is wrong with me. This isn't normal."

"Hm. I think I know what's going on." Dave couldn't help his somewhat knowing tone. Billy was surely

"No. Dave," Instead, the other began speaking faster, voice turning frantic, "You're the only one I want, I could never see myself with him-"

"Ah, Billy! No no no, not that!" The urge for damage control was immediate. Settling into the bed himself, he added more softly, "Come here." He opened his arms as Billy shuffled over, holding him close. Dave could feel him shivering. That was not the direction he was intending, though… He had to admit that there was once a point in time, where that would've been a reasonable guess.

Jealousy was quite the vice, one that he was not proud of having.

"Don't worry, I trust you way too much for that to be the case," Dave then continued, "But I understand, you're going through something rough."

Slowly, the shaking came to a stop. Finally, there was a stuttering whisper of response. "O-Okay."

"No, what I meant to say was, and please correct me if I'm wrong…"

"Of course." Billy was calmer this time. Good, that's good.

"I think, through Alex, you were given a responsibility," Dave began, maintaining a considerate air to his statements, "And it made you feel important. You got used to that, so when it was taken from you, and you became ordinary again, it's hard to adjust… Like an addiction. That, and despite doing your best, and even though Viktor didn't say or imply that you weren't good enough, you still feel that way."

Silence, aside from the humming of the AC. He waited, patiently. He could tell that Billy was thinking it over. Or, maybe Dave was off somewhere.

"... Now that you lay it all out like that, I think you're right," At last did Billy reply, and he sounded much more relaxed, "I am addicted. Not to Alex, but that desire for relevance."

"And now, you have withdrawal."
"And now, I have withdrawal."

It was said simultaneously. A pause, and then came a "Yes." from Billy. Dave grinned down at him.

"I know it'll be hard, but we'll all be there for you," He assured to him, "You'll get through this, I promise! And, I think… Sometimes, being average is better than anything else." With all his power, he'd meant that in a positive way. Life wasn't a race, or a battle. If one could be happy being normal, or as mentioned before, ordinary… Nothing else was needed.

Perhaps he should've said something like that instead.

"'Just let it be, and settle for less'..." Billy mused aloud. Oh jeez, not again.

"Well, I-I don't mean it in that way…" For a moment Dave trailed off, preparing to clarify again, but then he felt his partner shake his head. He moved up, now at eye-level with him. He was smiling. In relief.

"No, I understand. Thank you." Cupping Dave's face, he kissed him. Even here and now, it occasionally filled him with the "warm fuzzies", as many would describe.

He returned it, and when they pulled away, Dave replied, "Aw, it's no trouble at all." The mood of the room was noticeably less tense, he realized, as the two lay together to drift off.

What was yet another fascinating thing about Billy was how that worked - an entirely localized "sleep mode". If Dave had to guess, the rest of his currently active selves were most likely avoiding his home, too. Yet, he was finally able to ease his mind.

Then, Dave had an idea. A rather silly one, but nonetheless…

"'I love you.'" He tried to say in Lithuanian. The pronunciations were a bit off, what with the standard American accent he had, and each word was uttered slowly, making sure that each were correct.

Billy turned back to him, surprise in his expression, which quickly melted into affection. By contrast, his reply was without error or hesitation. "'I love you too.'"

Chapter Text

You know, at this point, Aldurra preferred the death penalty, even over something as minor as a public disturbance, and maybe just a little property damage. Oh. Both private and public. Okay, more than "maybe just a little". Regardless, at this moment, that punishment suddenly seemed a lot more tantalizing than what he was actually subjected to.

Community service.

Boo hoo, that shouldn't be such a big deal, right? Well, between the rather small meat rations, and his natural appearance in general, it very well was a bigger deal than necessary. Also, the metal tracking anklet? Uncomfortable as Hell!

And that smug motherfucker Alex still gets to live, taunting him through his cage down in Viktor's bunker, where they both occupy. Obviously they were on opposite sides of the place, but voices carried surprisingly well down there. He wished he could shut him up, but Alex always, always, had the advantage.

If he were to exact revenge, Aldurra was gonna need help. But the amount of people he could trust in was zero. He never really made friends prior to coming here, just one-time acquaintances.

God, what a hopeless situation.

So instead, he stabbed a stray can out of the half snow-covered sand with a grunt. So weird how this "utopia" still had a littering problem. Digital entities really were not much different than Humans.

"Heeey!" Someone shouted in greeting. Up 'til now, Aldurra was completely alone at this beach, so he assumed it was aimed at him. He turned, and saw… Denied. He was waving wildly at him, his blue coat sleeve a blur. Goddammit. "New Alex, right?"

"Â̶͎l̵̗͑d̴̲͒ū̷ͅṛ̵̎r̴̯͠a̸̙̐, actually." Was his flat response.

"Oh shit! Billy wasn't kidding!" Denied laughed it off, striding forward. Of course he knew him. Same creator and all. "Anyway, I was just messin' with you. Denied Cellar, buuut don't add that last part." His one arm extended for a handshake. Aldurra did nothing. Denied started wiggling it. "Uh. This is the part where you. You know."

"And how do you expect me to do that?" The demon was at least eighty percent sure Denied didn't have a brain. Or, rather, a coding equivalent.

"You can shapeshift, can't you? Why don't ya just turn 'em into hands?"

"Why don't you just get another arm?" Crass, but if it got him to go away, so be it.

"I don't wanna. I'm fine like this."

"Yeah, exactly." Aldurra turned away in an attempt to ignore him. It was only a half-truth, but it was not worth the trouble in explaining himself.

"Somethin' about a promise, wasn't it?" Oh. Oh no he didn't. If Aldurra ever saw that robotic snitch again, he'll rip his face off. Except, who knows how many bodies he had to take his place. Suddenly, even that was pointless.

"... Yes." He growled.

"Then, what if you copied whatever the heck your feet're doing, but, ya know. Hands? I mean, you already covered up that sicknasty ribcage." And then, the blue bastard had a point.

It took a bit of concentration, but Aldurra managed to cobble together what could pass as the aforementioned. A palm, bearing two fingers and a thumb, each of which were segmented with sharpened tips. Know what, nevermind whatever he said before; he missed this so much.

"Okay. I guess I should thank you, so… Thank you," The demon admitted, going back to complete the gReEtiNg rITuAL that Denied wanted SO BADLY. Then promptly threw him as far out into the ocean as he could muster. "Now leave me THE FUCK ALONE!"

The splash was huge, and he couldn't help but swell with pride. Okay, so he hasn't lost his touch after all! Maybe Alex was just stupid powerful or something!

And then a large wave knocked him right over, his yell of surprise swiftly turning to noisy gurgles. Once it went out again, Denied was standing over him, hand on his hip, shark teeth exposed as he continued giving him that shit-eating grin.

And he was trying not to shiver. Well, at least Aldurra had him on that.

Wait, did he… Always have fins for ears? On his forearm? On his calves?

"I like you, Aldurra! You're not scared of nothin'!" Except when he immediately surrendered to Viktor and his faculty cohorts, but let's pretend that never happened. "Listen, I know you just said to leave, but man! Do ya really wanna sulk here by yourself while picking up trash? Don't you wanna go have some fun?"

Aldurra spat a mouthful of the disgusting seawater back at him. "With you?"

"Sure! What've you got to lose?"

"My head." For emphasis, Aldurra raised his leg, showing off the tracker. Denied gave it a glance, then fished out a key, expression turning cheeky.

"I won't tell if you won't!" He uttered in a singsong way, but Aldurra remained firm.

"I'm not going to risk my life for a rebellious escapade with a scaly fish-man who won't take a hint-"

"There'll be free food."

"I'm sorry?"

"You like fish?" The question sounded strangely innocent. "Or, at least you'll get to say you tried it."

Aldurra was silenced. Floored even, and he hadn't gotten up yet. His aching stomach couldn't take much more of this. His approval came out much louder than intended. "Fine!"

Minutes later, the two were descending beyond the beach's drop off. Aldurra would've sank further down due to his density, but Denied's hold on his arm kept him from drifting away. He was a lot stronger than he initially gave him credit for, as he swam for the both of them. And as they descended, the icy cold of the surface gave way to warmer temperatures. Honestly, he had no idea how that worked, but he couldn't complain.

At the seafloor, he let go. His voice warbled as he said, "Aight, hang on a sec."

"For what?" Aldurra's did too, watching Denied distance himself. He got no reply, but an answer. A current consumed the fish-man's lower half, and in its place was an aqua tail, with a raspberry-pink tipped fin, both brighter than his jeans and boots were.

A merman. Somehow, he wasn't surprised.

"Phew, that's better!" Denied altered his top to the typical "nike lmao" tye-dye tee, before he spun back around, stretching. "So, ready to go hunting?"

Fuck yes.

It was a bigger challenge than Aldurra thought. Slicing at something underwater took more effort than above it. That and, although he'd never admit this, he'd never actually hunted for food before. Whatever happened in his backstory didn't count.

Also, the fish were just too fucking fast.

From afar, Denied watched on, then got off the coral tree he was sitting in, approaching. "Okay. It was mean of me to make you try something… Out of your element," He tried to put it, hand on Aldurra's shoulder. "But I promised food, so here's what'll happen - I'm gonna treat ya."

If the demon had any doubts, they were promptly torn to shreds. Similarly with Denied's freakish claws. Then again, Aldurra was one to talk. Just a short while ago, he had scythes for hands.

Anyway, the next stop was where the merman apparently lived - a dome. The walls were transparent, allowing Aldurra to see the interior. It was a big, single room with a loft about half its size. At the entrance was what appeared to be some kind of… Chamber?

While inside, the water was drained. "If you've been breathing, better get it out now."

It was disgusting.

"Now, I don't want to risk you gettin' sick, raw digital fish and all," Denied told him, as the two continued on inside. By this point, his outfit was what would've been expected, with the aqua trousers and raspberry pink shoes (which, actually, matched his tail). "So just make yourself at home until it's ready, okay? And if ya get bored, you can use my phone." He handed it to him, but gave him a look. "Just don't text anybody, or I'll kick your ass."

Tempting, but fair enough. Though… Damn. The merman actually had friends. A lot of friends. And unsurprisingly, including that snitch, Billy, who Denied labeled as "lil bro". Weird, but whatever.

He said not to send messages, but never mentioned snooping… Ah. A few days ago. The two were discussing events regarding the demon's… Run-in with Alex.

MediterraneanWaves🦈 (@DENIEDCELLAR) [11:18 AM]
hey, you holdin up ok after that wack alex on alex tussle?

Well-Made_Account🧤 (@BILLYLĖ) [11:18 AM]
Yes. I believe I'm pretty "ok", considering I got fired.

MediterraneanWaves🦈 (@DENIEDCELLAR) [11:18 AM]
whoaaa. damn
im sorry dude
wanna talk about it?

Well-Made_Account🧤 (@BILLYLĖ) [11:19 AM]
Thank you, but there's no need. I'm genuinely feeling alright.
Dave and I came to the conclusion that this whole predicament with Alex wasn't good for me.
Therefore, losing my job was actually a good thing.
Who knew?

MediterraneanWaves🦈 (@DENIEDCELLAR) [11:20 AM]
aw, sweet! well, still. if you ever need anything, im here, broliukas!

Well-Made_Account🧤 (@BILLYLĖ) [11:20 AM]
Tai labai vertinama, didysis broli.

MediterraneanWaves🦈 (@DENIEDCELLAR) [11:20 AM]
lmao DAMN dude, going full lithuania in this bitch!!!

Well-Made_Account🧤 (@BILLYLĖ) [11:20 AM]
Juokinga, kad tariamai esame iš ten, bet niekada ten nebuvome.
Man skauda smegenis, galvoju apie tai.

MediterraneanWaves🦈 (@DENIEDCELLAR) [11:21 AM]
taip pat kad tėtis ir dėdė gonzalo norėjo plaukti povandeniniu laivu iki pat australijos
būtų buvęs gana apšviestas nemeluosiu

Well-Made_Account🧤 (@BILLYLĖ) [11:22 AM]
Sutiko. Būtų buvę smagu tai patirti.
Tačiau, deja, neįmanoma. Vietoj to turės pakakti skaitmeninės Australijos. Ir net tada nėra jokių vandenynų, kuriuose būtų galima naršyti. Tiesiog Internetas.

MediterraneanWaves🦈 (@DENIEDCELLAR) [11:23 AM]
chachacha tiesa???

Okay, Aldurra had no idea what they were saying anymore. Just completely switched languages on him. Well, probably what he gets for prying.

Perhaps it took longer, but it didn't feel as such, when Denied called for him. "Soup's on, buddy!" Aldurra ran fresh out of self-control right then, closing the distance between him and the food in seconds. He wasn't sure how, but the blue bastard kept him at bay with his singular arm. "Don't inhale it! Try it."

Swapping with his leg, Denied allowed him a single chomp of the fish, gauging his interest. All Aldurra could muster in his synapses was getting more. "Okay, you can have it." Denied nodded to himself, tossing the rest of it toward the demon.

It was like a rare delicacy from the gods, much too blessed for someone of his ilk. He, a creature from the world of sin incarnate, absolutely did not deserve it. But, at the same time, demons usually just took what they wanted, regardless if it was earned or not. Though… This was a gift, was it not? It would be more rude, to reject such a thing.

… Why did his inner monologue become so dramatic just now? Wait, where the fuck was his fish?! It was here literally seconds ago!

"They really don't feed ya enough, huh?" The merman noted nearby. Wait. Shit. Aldurra just remembered where he was, who he was with. "Sounds like a crime in of itself, if you ask me." Oh fuck, he really did just do that.

The fish did not exist anymore.

That was it. His one chance of sustenance. And he just devoured it like it was nothing. Fuck. Fuck. FUCK

"Hey, uh, don't freak out; it's cool!" Denied was giving him a strange look. Not fear, but something… Adjacent. "I didn't get a bunch just to skimp out. Here, have a few more!" Three. No, four, to be exact.

Aldurra tried to resist the urge to go to town this time, but failed. Jesus Christ, these had to have come from the holy grounds. Either that, or the longterm malnourishment has turned practically anything into sacred cuisine.

… Probably the latter, he thought, as now he noticed he was on his fifth filet. Finally, he was coming down from his high.

"You good? One more?" Denied asked him, finding that he hadn't gone without eating the entire time. "You're slowing down, at least." The demon pondered the idea.

"Yeah. One more will probably do it," He semi-echoed the phrase. Denied didn't question him, yet another filet being tossed over. Aldurra's voice lowered in volume. "... Thanks."

"No biggie! And… That makes six."

"You kept count?"

"Well duh! I donno if Viktor allows visitors, but I'd have to be prepared to smuggle this shit in! Like, damn bitch, you live like this?! Sure, Billy kept you in his techie basement, but-"

"Billy isn't so innocent," Aldurra interrupted with a growl. "He gave us even less. And that was before I escaped. I had done nothing wrong."

"... Right," Denied turned sad, a complete 180 of his presumably "normal" demeanor. "Okay. I'm sorry about him. He kinda struggles with bias. A lot of us do. It's hard not to, because of… Ya know."

"No shit. Really." The demon's words dripped with sarcasm.

"Yeah, it sucks, I'm aware of that," The merman paused. "If it makes you feel any better, Billy did get fired and stuff."

"Yes, from the… 'alex on alex tussle'. But he seems to be doing well, because of it." Mockery, pure and unadulterated. Denied blinked.

"You've been reading my shit!"

"Didn't say I couldn't."

Denied sighed. "Fine. I'll give you that. Just this once." Silence hung in the air. "If you don't mind me asking, what're you gonna do when you're released?"

"You say that like it's a definite. The Tarwill-in-power may just decide to keep me locked away forever. Just like him. No matter how well I behave."

"... If, then." It didn't seem like he wanted to argue.

"I would leave." Aldurra answered simply. Nevermind not knowing where he'd go, or what he'd do once he got there. He had no one to find, nowhere to live; everything was taken away from him a long time ago. In fact, continuing to exist under his current premise just didn't seem worth it.

"And you're sure?" What did Denied not understand?

"Yes."

"Look, I promise I'm asking for a reason." He wasn't sure how, but in the more neutral light of the dome, compared to the blue tint of being in the ocean, Aldurra began to notice something about Denied's face. A darker patch of scaly flesh around his left-hand eye. Which, unlike the deep, royal blue of his right, was colored brown.

Why was he only recognizing these things sporadically?

"Do I dare ask?"

"... Well, here's the sitch," The merman began, "Erie asked me to do something today, and I've been procrastinating. She wanted me to find the parts for this lil buddy here." From his inventory, he produced a photo, handing it to Aldurra. "You'll probably recognize her."

Scrina. It suddenly became hard to hold it together.

"I don't know why, or how she figured out where they are," Denied continued, "But she singled out the specific location - under the big cliff not too far from here. So when I saw you, I thought… 'Maybe he'd like to help out'." He paused with a sigh. "Look. I know the stories. It's fucked up, we all know that. I've been a prick for sure, but really, we both were, so I think that makes us even, yeah?"

All Aldurra could do was nod, absentmindedly.

"What do ya say, wanna bring her home? Before you possibly fuck off forever?" Aldurra broke his gaze, back to Denied. He didn't need to respond. So, the merman motioned to follow. "This way, then."

Just as he said, soon the two freaks of nature (neutral, Aldurra decided) made it to the spot in question. Additionally, although half to almost completely buried in the sand, Aldurra saw the pieces. First, an arm. The torso. The corner of her monitor screen. Screws. Antennae. The only thing keeping him from falling apart was his frantic digging.

"Here!" He called, and Denied wasted no time in joining in. As the two set each part where they would go from on the seafloor, the merman kept currents from blowing anything away. Within an hour, every piece was found.

Aldurra couldn't help it. Tears stung his eyes, mixing into the water. And the noises he made were rather pitiful. His voice was unsteady. "It's her. FUCK, it's really her… She's a machine, someone can fix her, right?! It's been done before!"

The merman sat next to him, hand tentatively placed on his shoulder. As Aldurra continued, it became a hug. "I know, I know. Maybe that's what Erie wants."

With a nod, Aldurra reflexively swiped at his eyes, picking up as many pieces as would fit in his inventory. Denied, letting him go, took the rest. "Then let's get the Hell outta here and deliver them."

And of course, reattach the anklet tracker, but that went without saying.

"Sooo… It should be right around-" Denied went to say as he breached the surface, walking out onto the dry shore, then cut himself off. When Aldurra did the same, he too was at a loss for words.

Nearby stood a Laura, who held up the tracker. Despite her not having any way to indicate an expression, Aldurra could just tell.

"I can explain-" He tried to speak anyway, but stopped with deep, guttural coughs and hacks. He collapsed forward, what felt like gallons of seawater trying to get out. Dammit. He forgot.

"Hey, no no no, you've been blamed for enough stuff already," Denied pat his back, "Let me take one for the team."

"We're a team?!" Aldurra was raspy.

"It's my fault," Denied then said to Laura, "I'm the one who tempted him into going out with me."

"Wait, what the fuck?" Slowly, the demon was starting to sound normal again. "That was a date?!"

"Didja want it to be?" The blue bastard gave him a teasing grin, winking. The next face Aldurra made got him to back off. "Alright, alright, I get ya; you're not interested. Okay," He paused, then clarified, "It was a platonic date, with newly-made acquaintances! But I had a good reason!"

He continued on, listing out the apparent malnourishing problem Aldurra dealt with, and then mentioned the… Parts finding. "But hey, doesn't helping residents qualify for community service? That would mean he's well within his rights!"

Denied was difficult to get a read on. One part of him was a complete dumbass, the other surprisingly aware of things. Was the former some kind of act? It wasn't easy to say for sure. At the end of the day, if he's that willing to stick up for him, Aldurra would take what he could get.

Though, only now, he began to realize that Laura had not spoken a word yet. Wouldn't she be a bit more… Talkative?

While thinking about this, a face appeared - the digital, green one of Erie. Both demon and merman fell back with startled yells. Laura's very form changed, and in her place was the tall robot lady herself.

"How- How did she- I mean, I couldn't even tell-!" Aldurra was trying to mutter to Denied, full of disbelief.

"Good, you found all of them," She ignored basically everything else, extending her free hand. "Hand them over. Both of you." When the other two hesitated, she gestured to the tracker, looking at Aldurra. "... And I will tell them that you really were just lazing about for two hours straight. Still not what you're supposed to be doing, but too petty to reprimand you."

With a quick glance, Aldurra and Denied did as they were told. Then, she handed the demon the anklet. "It would be best to put that back on." Immediately following, she took off, with a terrifyingly swift and high jump.

Maybe that's how Viktor and company got there that night…

After a short while, Denied began to laugh, lying on his back in the snowy sand. "Holy shit! I was so fuckin' scared, man! I thought- I thought that was it!" Meanwhile, Aldurra just sighed in relief, before trying something, attaching the device to his wrist.

Huh. That fit way better.

"… Well, now what." He asked, when Denied settled down. His heterochromatic eyes gazed up at him, "Hmm"ing.

"Donno. But we can hang out again sometime if you want."

Aldurra considered it. "After that whole shitshow? … Sure."

(This portion is too short to be a standalone chapter, so here you go!)

Down in the lab, Billy #3612 was running diagnostics on the one vessel that he could not awaken, now understood as #1178. There wasn't any physical damage that could be found. No causation in the mind that prevented it from responding. Nothing supernatural, such as a spell, or a curse, or even possession at all. Though, what was interesting to note, was how one of his hands was in a bullet barrel formation, implying a fight almost took place. The whole situation left him puzzled.

The only other option as of now, was to boot it manually, and issue a resync.

Meanwhile, stationed on the ground floor, another of his selves heard the doorbell. It was the middle of the day, so that could be anyone. He, #22033, went to answer. On his doorstep was

Erie. He stiffened, only managing to look up at her. She was as intimidating as ever.

"Would you like to redeem yourself?" And no time for pleasantries. "Because, unfortunately, you are the only one I deem qualified for this task, despite you being an incompetent fuck-up." Without waiting for an answer, she displayed her inventory. There were… Many, many robotic parts, and Billy recognized them as being from Scrina.

He didn't like where this was going. Especially when Erie reached down and pulled him off the ground by the tie, grip much tighter than necessary.

"I want you to put her back together," She then spoke more, and it sounded like an order. "Do this for me, and I'll forgive you. For all that time you kept me from finding my daughter." A pause. "Do we have a deal?"

Dumbly, Billy nodded. Erie dropped him, and he landed with an audible thud. "Excellent."

The ride down the elevator was silent, and for Billy's part, awkward. He avoided looking at her, focusing a little more on #3612's efforts in booting up #1178. It was a success, but he was frightened, immediately noticing his arm and turning it back into his hand.

"ALEX-!"

"It is alright," #3612 tried to assure, "Everyone is safe. Alex is accounted for."

"... Oh, but…" And still, he was shaking, petrified.

#22033 overheard Erie stop the elevator suddenly. "Wait, this isn't the right-"

"Shut up. I want to hear this." She didn't open the doors, only listened in.

"Yes, unfortunately you became out of sync," #3612 continued, calmly compared to the one next to Erie, "But it'll only take a moment to adjust. To do that, I require your unique memories." There was a pause, as #1178 suddenly curled into himself, hands on his head.

"You… You don't," He stammered, "You really don't. You're better off not having them."

"I'm sure that whatever it is, we can take it. You are unharmed, so I'm assuming he said something to you, correct?"

"What he almost made me do… You will be plagued if you find out," He began to beg. "Please. Please just. Make it go away. Erase it! I can't stop thinking about it! I can't function!"

"... Understood," #3612 complied, hooking the both of them up. "I won't look, only delete." He hated having to lie to himself, but curiosity was getting the best of him.

Billy immediately paid for it. Promptly, he destroyed the moments in question, both from #1178 and himself

He could no longer recall what troubled his unsynced self so, but it must've been too horrible to keep record of. All he could do was trust in that decision.

At last, the other him began to calm. "Thank you."

Now to resync.

#22033 continued to hide his face from Erie's view. "Is that what you do every time things go to shit?" Her voice was… Softer than usual.

"Only in circumstances like these." He did his best to sound cordial.

"That's not healthy, Billy."

"With all due respect, I feel that I know myself better than you."

"What if someone you cared about died? Would you just… Delete all the memories you had with them, just so you wouldn't have to deal with the pain?"

"That's different." He stopped staring at the wall, glancing at her instead.

"Is it?" But she was looking right at him, a stern, but somehow worried expression on her face screen. "Would you be able to stand there and tell me, that you'd hold onto everything you experienced with them? After they're gone?"

Suddenly, he wasn't so certain. He'd absolutely want to, but would the agony be too much to bear? He had to admit it to himself - he'd at least be compelled to go through with it. He didn't need to say so, however, as Erie read him like an open book.

"God…" She sighed, pretending to pinch what would've been the bridge of her nose, "You know Viktor fired you because he thinks you're a mess. And, yeah, you've really become that; I would know. But. That's not your fault. You were just in way over your head." She hummed in thought.

"I've been too hard on you, so for that, I'm sorry," She then continued, "Let's not forget our true enemy here - Alex. I don't think he's aware of it, but he's clearly pitted us against each other. Before him, before this, you repairing things was when you were at your best. We were such good friends. And then he showed up and ruined it for all of us."

Friends with Erie? Billy… Could not recall that. The rest of what she mentioned, yes, but not that one tidbit. "I, um. I'm not sure if I follow."

"... Shit. Did you erase me, too?" Instead of getting angry, her concern only grew more apparent. She sighed again. "Explains a lot, actually. After our big fight, you suddenly stopped returning my messages. I assumed it was over. I guess, technically, it was."

Oh dear God. Is that why he was so confused over those? "My deepest apologies. I didn't mean any harm by it-"

"No. Stop that," She held up a hand, refuting. "I was irreconcilable. We couldn't find her. Comfort was never your strong suit, and I wish I'd accounted for that." She reached out, pressing the button for the correct floor. "I would offer my side of things, but it's not the same. What's done is done. Still, I was horrible to you that day, and you didn't deserve it. I'm sorry. You don't have to forgive me."

They moved, further down. Her explanations indeed put much into perspective. "If we were friends before… Could we ever be again?"

"Wouldn't it be weird? Me knowing you, but not the other way around?"

"I now understand the context, so no. Not to me." When he expected her to dismiss the idea, he saw her smile. A gentle smile.

"Okay. We can try, at least. Just don't throw me in the recycling bin again, promise?"

Billy nodded, as the floor was reached. The elevator doors slid open. "Promise."

Chapter Text

Diamond Man, or "Dia" as he liked to call himself for… Ages now, he guessed, continued wandering aimlessly through the vacuum of the Internet. His clear, stickman hands were nestled in his color wheel (purple, pink, cyan) hoodie pocket, hood down. Here, there was no light source to reflect glints or glares off his surface, so there wasn't much point.

Once upon a time, he had a whole game's worth of companions: an alien hall monitor, a robot designed specifically for playtime, a literal sleep inducing one, an "error" who was really just misunderstood, and… Well, Spike. But eventually, all of them had ended up on different paths, different sites, different places.

He can't even remember the last time he saw any of them.

It's commonly believed that the World Wide Web can be dangerous to travel alone, especially for kids, and teens like Dia. But most threats, if any, were usually warded off with his… Temperament. Yelling at them while his surroundings brightened to blinding levels sort of became his thing, when it was originally just being angry about looking "too shiny", and- you know what, this is too complicated, forget it.

It would just be great to be able to talk to someone nice for a change

Wait, who's that in the distance?

Dia paused, squinting. It definitely was a person, but Humans don't ordinarily manifest like this. A digital entity? Regardless, he picked up the pace, following the mysterious stranger, until he started getting close.

"Hey! Hey you! With the bald-" He called out without thinking, then stopped immediately, both in words and running. The person had a poorly-rendered 3D model, with a green shirt, blue trousers, and brown shoes. And when he turned to face whoever was trying to speak to him, there was a single, ginger strand of hair, eyebrows, and bright red lips.

No freaking way this was for real.

"Ohhh my God, sorry, I didn't mean that in a bad way, I, uh." Dia hastily tried to salvage the situation. How could he just insult the Baldi Baldimore?!

But to his surprise, the professor smiled at him, with a double-jointed wave. "Oh, hi there! Don't worry, I don't mind! My name's Baldi, what's yours?"

"D-... Diamond Man, but I go by 'Dia' now."

"'Dia'... How nice! Hm…" He trailed off, as though noticing something. "This might sound strange, but do you know where we are? I haven't the slightest idea of how I got here, either! My memories are so fuzzy."

That would explain how he'd been moving; it was as though it'd been rather aimless, or similar to sleepwalking. Dia's yelling must've woke him up. But… Were Baldis known for that? "We're on the, uh, Internet, Professor."

This shocked him. "Wow! That's really cool, but at the same time, I'm pretty sure my game isn't equipped to let me use it. This is all so peculiar…" After a moment, he settled down and added, "Anyway, where're you headed? If… If that's possible?"

Oh man, it truly was his first time Online. Dia could empathize. The two started walking again as he replied, "Nowhere in particular. I was just wandering, I guess. If I may ask, what do you remember?"

"I see! And, well," Baldi thought about it, his voice quieting as he spoke more, "I was at home, then I went into Susan's game, and then I…" It rose back to normal. "Oh! I heard a voice! Whoever it was really wanted to meet me for some reason. And I was compelled to find them! Somehow, it led to me being here."

"Huh. Do you still hear them? Can you tell where it's coming from? Or where they are?" Baldi listened, then nodded.

"I do. It's a bit different now, as if I can decide not to keep going. Though, if I don't, I might just be stuck here forever, and that's not an option! Hopefully they'll know how to leave, unless, you do?" Dia shook his head, having never really considered that until now.

"That's alright!" The professor continued, "As for where they are, they keep saying to meet them at the… 'The Webspace'. I don't know what that means, or where it is."

Hold on, that sounded familiar. The Webspace… The Webspace… Dia wracked his mind, it was on the tip of his tongue! Then it occurred to him.

"Oh, that's that one place!" He answered, "Where a bunch of fangames live!" He was met with a confused look. "Uh. Your fangames." No change. "Don't tell me no one told you about your fangames."

"Sorry, it's the first I've heard of it. People really liked me that much…?"

"Heck yeah they do! I mean, I uh… I'm from one! It's called, 'Dave's Fun Algebra Class'!" As soon as Dia spoke those words, a pang of sadness hit him straight through the heart. God, he missed everyone. However, he did his best to not let that show in front of Baldi.

"Oooh, Algebra!" Luckily, he seemed preoccupied by the subject, "Now we're getting more advanced!"

"Yeah, except our modder- uh, creator - didn't actually put in any algebra stuff. It was still basic math like yours. Come to think of it, very few changed that part."

"Aw, that's a shame! But I understand; coding is difficult!" This time, Dia nodded, then saw something else in the distance. It resembled… A bus stop? Yes, it was! That should take them straight to the Webspace!

"Oh hey, I recognize this!" He brought up to the professor, "They appear when you really want to go somewhere. Better than walking around in circles!"

"Fantastic! It doesn't look to be that far away, either!" Just as he was finishing, Dia took off ahead of him.

"I'll race you!" He let out a small, teasing laugh as he challenged, although he was only jogging. He was able to hear Baldi's advancing pace, and soon he was right next to him.

"Try to keep up!" He replied with a chuckle.

Dia really shouldn't have been so surprised by this, but every time he started gaining a lead, the professor put the both of them at neck and neck again, almost effortlessly in fact. When it wasn't possible for Dia to go any faster, he dove for the bus stop's sign with a small yell, grabbing the pole with his hand

Crack.

The rest of him smashed into the ground. Panting heavily, he pushed himself upright again, looking back. Sure enough, although both his own and Baldi's hand were holding the pole, Dia knew his connected first.

"Ha… Ha, ha…" He heaved, before collapsing again. "I win…"

"Are you alright, Dia?" The concern, through somewhat labored breathing, felt rather strange. A Baldi who cares for another's well-being? Since when?

"Yeah, I'm good." Not entirely a lie, as Dia rose up again, suddenly realizing his cracked elbow. Thankfully, the long sleeves of his hoodie kept it out of view. Oh man, he did not want to imagine a scenario where he'd said that, only for half of his arm to slide out and clatter onto the ground.

So embarrassing. So, so embarrassing.

From thin air, the bus appeared, putting an end to the moment. Baldi glanced at it, then back at him, with an uncertain grin on his face. "Well, alright! If you say so!"

The interior was all a pristine white, full of light compared to the flat-colored void outside, but empty. Dia pulled up his hood, sitting with his legs against his chest and arms covering what was still exposed. His blue shorts reached his knees sure, but it wasn't going to be enough in this instance.

And yet, the reflections painted his surroundings in many colors.

Self-consciousness crept into him. His words became a mumble. "Sorry. I can't help it. I'm just. Really, really shiny."

Next to him, Baldi sat with one leg over the other. "No need to apologize! I think it looks quite pretty."

"It doesn't bother you?!"

"Not at all!"

"Wow…" Dia trailed off, bewildered. "Back home, I could never go outside during the day. Not after I was changed. It was totally my own fault though, I asked for it. 'Hey, what if I was more like a real diamond?!' You could say I got exactly what I wanted."

"You didn't know, right?"

"Nah, I did. Still wanted it. I donno if I regret it or not, though. Sometimes it's cool, then I roughhouse a little too hard and my leg goes flying. You know." Then, of course, there was the inspiration behind it all, and how conflicting that was, but he kept that part to himself. It'd sound too silly.

"Does… Does that hurt?" More concern. Dia wondered if he should just ask.

"Oh no, it doesn't!" He tried to play it off lightly, "It's more… Annoying if anything. But we quickly figured it out. A little resin to bind the pieces and-" Dia made a pop sound. "All better!"

"So I did hear correctly…" Baldi's volume was just above a whisper. Then, he looked over at Dia, voice back to normal. "I figured you just didn't want me to worry, but how badly did you crack your arm?"

Oh shit fuck. "Well I mean, if I check now, it'll just get even brighter in here…"

Baldi's eyes began to glow a lime green, expression desperate. His next statement was soft. "Please let me see it."

It frankly weirded Dia out. The professor must've noticed, for he abruptly turned away, eyes clenched shut and shaking his head. When he opened them again, they were… Blue.

What kind of Baldi was he?

"No, no, you don't have to," He was trying to take it back. "I barely know you, it's not my place… I'm so sorry, Dia."

"Um," Was all Dia could utter at first. Then, he gathered the courage to ask, "Which game did you say you were from?"

"Oh goodness, that's right, I didn't!" Baldi looked a bit shameful, but continued, latching onto the chance to change the subject. "I'm from Baldi's Basics in Education and Learning. But I believe they call it 'Classic' nowadays." That… Didn't really help. At this point, Dia was thinking that this was some random, modded Baldi. Guess not.

"So you're… Old School," Dia replied, hoping it came off inoffensive and casual, "Completely, totally up to you if you want to tell me, but when did you realize you were in a game?"

From personal experience, it felt odd, but made sense at the same time. Perhaps somewhere in Baldi's retelling, he'll mention who the fuck gave him all these unusual changes and

"I always knew," What. "Right from the moment it opened for the first time. I'm Baldi, a character designed to teach and guide players through my game, and that's it." Seriously? "But of course, my friends and I don't always have to play our roles. In fact, nine times out of ten, we're just doing our own thing." Baldi paused. "I sure hope they're okay."

"Oh my God, that sounds just like-" Just like home. Just like home. "... Home." Dia fought back the tears that started to form.

The bus stopped. Outside was the entrance to the Webspace.

"You miss them too," The professor said, not in a question. He stood, waiting for Dia to follow. Dia could only nod. Baldi reached out his hand, and Dia found himself holding on. The two disembarked, and almost immediately following, the bus disappeared. "Well, I'm sure that we'll find our way back." He flashed him an empathetic grin. "Somehow!"

The two walked in, greeted by a world that tried to mimic Earth in various ways, but was clearly still polygonal. But to be fair, what Earth was like could not be explained, in a matter that was relatable to either of them. However, it was teeming with life - trees, buildings, and snow falling from the sky, but melting into water once on the ground. And, of course, there were other characters.

Dia found himself pressing up against Baldi. Even at his age, the tip of his head reached his shoulders. Still, a whole lot shorter than typical Diamond Men.

"Is something the matter?" The professor inquired, quietly.

"People are… Um. Scary." He really had no other means of describing it.

"Oh! Well, you don't have to talk to them if you don't want to. I'll be right here with you, okay?" After a few moments, Dia pulled away, taking a breath.

"Okay. Okay." He replied.

As they walked onward, nearby was an unimaginably large tree, and it probably would've been well over a hundred years old, if not for the obvious fact that the Webspace couldn't have possibly existed for that long. It seemed to be more like a landmark, maybe even a centerpiece, surrounded by benches.

"Wow…" Baldi was saying, in awe, "My fangames, right?" When he asked, Dia gave a nod. "And they were able to come together and live here. I wonder if they have Humans helping them build everything…"

Now that he mentioned it, that was amazing. Luckily, Dia could answer for one thing. "As far as I know? They - the Humans - think this is just another game. They can play it, and stuff. But I don't think any of them actually… Work on it?"

Baldi's jaw dropped, utterly stunned by the notion that came to mind next. "Then that would mean…! Incredible…"

"Well-... Yeah," Dia had to admit, "We would never be able to do anything like this back home. Unless you were changed to be able to, I guess." He paused, glancing around them, then stiffening up. The other characters were staring. At him.

"Hey, uh, do you still hear that one person calling for you? Maybe we could start looking for them?" He tried to not stutter as he suggested. Even when he changed his focus back to Baldi, Dia could still feel the many, many pairs of eyes. It was filling him with anxiety.

"I don't really have anywhere to be," He continued, hoping he was sounding casual, "And I don't mind coming along. I just, you know." Don't want to be alone. Don't want to be gawked at by those fucking prying eyes. Don't want to have a meltdown right in front of him.

In spite of Dia's best efforts, the professor was giving him a knowing expression. "They're not staring at you, Dia. It's me. They're so excited, they can't believe who they're seeing. But even with all their voices, yes, I can still hear them. I feel a bit bad - these guys probably want to meet me too, but… Anyway. We can go."

How could he figure this out so easily? Was Dia really that much like… Arts & Crafters? Wait, damn. That's what it is.

"EMOTIONS REMOVED." Chimed someone from afar. Right when the two of them turned to see who had said that (pretty loudly, actually), in front of them stood a faceless lady with a headset.

Wait. Laura, the head teacher. From

"Professor Baldimore. It is an honor to make your acquaintance. Please come with me. Mr. Strobovski has been dying to see you."

"Well, what do you know?" Baldi mentioned to Dia, grinning, "He must be the one! Let's go, Dia!"

Yeah, this was… Much easier than expected. But he had no complaints; anything to get out of here.

They were led to the Infinity School, Viktor's domain. Dia never imagined that he would set foot anywhere near it, let alone be taken to its second floor, where the Director's Room (and the Tarwill in question) formally resided.

Everything was a lot more upscale than Dia remembered it being. Maybe at some point, it was heavily renovated more closely to Strobovski's tastes. He always seemed to be the sort of person to be into that antique aesthetic. Even with its grandiose presentation, or perhaps because of it, the atmosphere felt anything but welcoming. He kind of hoped it wasn't just him.

Multiples of the same characters were spotted on occasion, and a few that Dia was sure didn't, er, belong to this game. Outside help? That was probably it.

Like earlier, they didn't go without being eyed at, but this time Dia wasn't so unnerved. It was as if many others felt the same as him - that Baldi was practically a celebrity. He was the Original. The one who, inadvertently, started it all. Without him, none of the others would exist.

It was crazy to think about. And yet, here Dia was, able to feel the warmth of the professor's hand as it held his own, tenderly in fact. Like some kind of teacher's instinct. Except, Dia wasn't his student, but it didn't seem to matter.

He felt the chill immediately when Laura stopped, telling the both of them to wait for Viktor. But he said nothing, and each took a seat.

"And you, Diamond Man," Laura then addressed him directly, "Don't worry, I haven't forgotten. You are the only one from your game to arrive, yes?" At first, all he could do was look at Baldi, who encouraged him to answer.

"I-It's 'Dia', and. Yeah, that's right." He fumbled the entire sentence.

"I thought so," She nodded, probably to herself, "The good news is, my server-wide check indicates a match. Your Dave lives here. I can inform him if you like."

Oh God. Dave. But wait, that sounded impossible. Dia vividly recalled that he didn't want to go Online, even going so far as to try and convince the others not to, and how that led them to… To ditch him. Spike's terminology, not Dia's. But if Dave's here, then that means…

How was he going to be? Angry? Passive aggressive? Dismissive? Or, would he have forgotten him entirely? Dia didn't know which outcome was worse.

"... Do you want to see him?" He heard Baldi ask, carefully.

What other choice did Dia have, wandering the Internet unsupervised for the rest of forever? Is that better than paying for the consequences of leaving his own former teacher behind?

No. Running away only made it worse. Dia had to face the music.

"Yeah. Please tell him I'm here." He found it in him to say. But, he thought, maybe Dave won't even show. Would that be soul-shattering? Or a relief?

Laura barely had any reaction at all. "Very well. Now then, I will be back when Mr. Strobovski is ready for you, Professor." Without waiting for a reply, she departed.

Silence, until Baldi broke it. Once again, he sounded very considerate with his wordchoice. "What is Dave like?"

"Uh, he's… He can be kind of…" Dia struggled to answer. He didn't want to make him look bad necessarily, but if he only listed the good things, that wouldn't be honest for either of them.

"He's alright. He's more of an engineer, though. He's always liked outer space. He's also a daydreamer, kinda absent-minded. Can hold a grudge, or get jealous sometimes. But pretty happy-go-lucky, usually." Usually.

Baldi sat there in thought for a short while. "I see… I could be wrong, but you look nervous about seeing him again."

"It's… A whole story. Long."

"I'll listen if you want to tell me." He meant it.

Okay. So, once upon a time, Dave's Fun Algebra Class was downloaded, by a Human named

"Mr. Strobovski will see you now, Professor Baldimore." Dia completely stopped talking.

"Oh! That was fast!" Baldi noted, though trying to sound polite. "If it's not too much trouble, may Dia go with me?" Dia… Found himself appreciating that.

"Afraid not. This is a matter that only concerns you. Besides, he must stay put for Dave." Laura, by a stark contrast, was cold.

"I'm sure he'd understand waiting just a bit longer."

"Your attachment to Dia is rather… Unprecedented. He's not even from your game. Why is he so important to you?" Uh. Admittedly, Dia wanted to know too.

"I happen to have something deeply rooted in my code," Baldi's tone suddenly became serious. "It's a little trait called, 'compassion'. I didn't want to say anything, but this building has a very unsettling aura, and I won't make him sit here by himself! He's just a kid!"

Holy shit. Dia had to cover his mouth to keep from reacting any further. He tried to get a look at the professor's face, he sounded so… So angry. Not in the expected way, but still.

"How very interesting. A modded Tutor Baldi, then. Disappointing, but Viktor will decide your authenticity. Come along, now. Don't make this difficult." What was going on right now? Whatever it was, Dia felt caught in the middle. He didn't like it.

"I said, not without-" The professor went to say, but Dia's hand on his shoulder cut him off.

"I'll be fine." It wasn't going to be easy, though.

When Baldi turned to him, there it was in his face, in his eyes. Compassion. "Are you sure?" Dia gave a small nod. "Alright. Well, maybe I'll be back before he gets here-"

"Unlikely, assuming you're the real deal." Laura interrupted. Baldi tried to ignore her.

"-But no matter what happens Dia, stay strong, okay? You can accomplish anything you set your mind to. You've gotten this far, so I know you can."

Dia didn't realize how much he needed to hear that, and it was coming from Baldi. He couldn't stop the tears from flowing. Slowly, the professor reached out for a hug, and Dia clung to him, choking back sobs. The warmth from not long ago magnified.

"You're going to be alright," Baldi continued to assure, "One way or another, something will work out, and that's a promise."

"O-Okay…" Dia hadn't known him for an hour, and yet, he felt so safe. Like he could just trust in those statements. Maybe… Maybe he should. Finally, the two pulled away, Dia wiping his face with his sleeves.

"Ready?" Baldi gently prompted, when Dia finished.

"Y-Yeah. I think so. Th-Thanks for everything." His tone wasn't very balanced, but it was enough. The professor gave a soft smile.

"It's no problem. Now," He got to his feet. "If we don't see each other again: take care, Dia. I believe in you!"

And soon, he was gone, and it felt like he'd been dreaming the entire time. The only thing tethering Dia to the idea that all this really did occur, was the bits of gossip being uttered here and there. Yet, even though the Director's Room (office?) was right nearby, he couldn't hear anything. As if it'd been soundproofed. It wasn't uncommon for fangame characters to share the "incredible hearing" ability that Baldi had, so that was probably why.

In truth, Dia now felt more lonely than ever. And in a place as unnerving as this. All he could do to keep sane was close his eyes, hiding his face behind his knees. He imagined himself in a hot, pressurized cavern; it was dark, quiet, and the most comforting place he could think of.

Until…

"Dia? Is that really you?" The voice of Dave broke through, tone cautious. Dia lifted his head, and sure enough, there he was. The expression he had matched his words. Dia wasn't sure what made him do it, exactly, but he pulled down his hood, letting the less bright lights cast his vibrant reflections.

"Gracious! It is you!" Dave repeated, his demeanor turning… Happy. Relieved. Sentimental? "Oh my, it's been such a long time! I've missed you so much! How've you been? Need somewhere to stay?"

"You're… Not mad at me?" Was all Dia could manage, full of disbelief.

"Dia, why in the world would I be mad at you?" A frown of confusion.

"Because… You know. Before. When we all…"

"Oh, that," Dave's initial excitement was quelled as he remembered. "It hurt me for a long time, yes, but I can't say I would hold it against you all. I get it, Dia, I really do. But truthfully? It's in the past, and I wouldn't worry!"

He wouldn't hold it against them all. It's in the past. Roughly two years ago, Dia couldn't imagine him saying anything like that, and with such confidence. "Uh… Well, okay. Anyway, I think I've been fine. I don't know what I'm going to do, though. Should I stay here?"

"Absolutely! Besides, you really shouldn't be running around out there on your own like that." He got Dia there.

"... Are you, by any chance, offering?" From the question, Dave came closer with an affirming nod.

"That's right! I can take you there now, if you want!"

"Y-Yeah, that'd be great. But just…" Dia paused, glancing at the office door. They could wait, but the two already said their goodbyes…

"'Just', what?" Dave tilted his head in curiosity. Dia looked back at him.

"It's nothing." Besides, Dave wouldn't believe him. The commotion had all but died down by this point, so it'd sound way too fantastical.

"Hm. Don't let Viktor intimidate you, okay?" Not what Dia was implying, but he chose not to correct him.

"I won't." After Dia said that, Dave went right back to beaming, starting to wheel himself toward the elevator. Dia looked back one last time, then followed.

"Oh! And there's someone special that I really want to introduce you to! I think you'll like him!"

Chapter Text

"My final report is ready, Viktor." Laura tried to sound calm as she announced. At a time like this, everyone was frantic, on edge, anxious, grieving. With her, he walked, the two entering a room full of examination tables. Only three were occupied by bodies, and each had a sheet covering them.

Over the sounds of chaos, pain, and sobs from outside, Viktor stiffly nodded. "Let's hear it, then."

"The casualty count has totaled to five, sir," Laura began, clipboard of notes shaking in her hands. "As you can no doubt tell, however, many others were injured; either as innocent bystanders, or as a result of fighting Alex. Interestingly, said murders were entirely from his… Er, one game." The correction was hard to bear.

"Two are missing." Viktor noted, gesturing to the tables. Laura nodded.

"Yes," She continued, solemnly, "That's because Alex… Completely devoured them. Their codes no longer exist." A pause, as she took a breath.

"They are the following: Asmodena, and Ms. Immortal. Olivia is present, but she was eaten to the bones. Dolly was torn to fabric and cotton, but her AI has been completely erased. Candice is too sweet for Alex, so all that occurred was fatal wounding. Finally…"

Suddenly, Erie's yelling was a lot more prominent. In fact, it made Laura pause.

"Don't 'I'm sorry' me! You have hundreds of yourself! That's more than enough to search every PIXEL of this place, TEN TIMES! For fuck's sakes, you can FLY! Go into the OCEAN! Stop making excuses, you stupid son of a bitch!"

"I promise, I'm doing everything I can. Unfortunately, my CPU is near its limit."

"Just-... Just get the fuck out of my sight! You couldn't possibly understand losing family! At least you still HAVE one!" Silence, and then she muttered, "Worthless bag of bolts."

Laura then made a throat clearing sound, trying to redirect focus. "Scrina has yet to be found. There has been no confirmation on whether or not she is still alive. Her mother is… Very worried."

Viktor went over to the sheeted tables, lifting each one. True to Laura's word, the occupants were exactly as described. Somehow, however, Olivia's black hair was still intact. "Is there anything we can do for them?"

"According to our data, Olivia and Candice's AIs are still present; they need only a suitable vessel of which to act on them. Despite this, we will require more research."

"If it's possible, then I'll allow it."

"Right, sir," Laura acknowledged, then added, "As a result of the incident, I have personally devised a new method concerning games. It allows me to identify matches between them."

"So no one can lie about which copy they're from." Viktor caught on, finishing.

"Precisely. And, as it turns out, though by this point it's relatively obvious… The Alex and the casualties are not related."

"It was either that, or he was depraved enough to axe his own ensemble," Viktor uttered, bitterly. "That means their native Alex might also be long gone. They did imply as such, when they first came here." Looking back at her, Laura only nodded again.

"Please keep me posted." He spoke in farewell, leaving the room.

"Ah yes, 1. Thank you for coming." Hours later, Viktor's appointed code expert floated seamlessly into his office. He was a Dave, the first to arrive at the Webspace. An old friend.

He was a cyborg, and was fitted in a plain, dark gray top, black visor glinting in the light. A true mixture of Fun Algebra Class and The Future Is Here, but leaned a bit more on the former, having kept his legs unchanged aside from sporting white shoes over the standard brown.

"Do you really intend on bringing them back to life?" 1's voice rumbled in his much lower octave, but what was uncharacteristic was his tone. It was unusually flat, serious.

"I do. That's where you come in. I need you to-"

"Then I will not be participating." Oh.

"For… What reason?"

"This is madness, Viktor," 1 started, the monotone slowly melting away into desperation, "They're dead. The first thought to cross your mind should be, 'arrange a funeral for them, let us pay our respects'. Not 'shucks, guess we better resurrect them'. Doing so would be a complete disservice."

"I see. Counterpoint: we're not mortals. We can do whatever we want, if we can find a way to do so."

"What difference does that make? Our existences are still so fragile; we rely on this place. I will not desecrate them."

"Says… You." 1 wasn't impressed by the childish comeback, looking at Viktor like he was an utter buffoon.

"But I made that choice. They do not get to say if they want to come back. We force them from our own desires. It's appalling."

"C'mon, 1. They didn't ask to be killed, either. They didn't deserve this."

"So, you want to bring them back from their most terrifying moments? Without even considering the consequences that could have, not only on them, but everyone else? You'll make them live in a world where they're now unsafe?" Things were getting out of hand.

"No, because he's-" Viktor continued trying to reason, but cut off when 1 reached across the desk, pulled him forward by the collar, and slapped him hard across the face. Viktor was dazed, feeling his mask ring from the impact.

"It doesn't matter that he's imprisoned; he could escape and do it all over again!" 1 was angry now. "Don't you get it? We should be guarding the lives who remain! Not the ones we've already lost! Ugh!" He pushed him back, Viktor and his chair hitting the wall in the process. "You disgust me. Find another machine language interpreter. Good. Day."

In a moment of dramatization, 1 left the room, slamming the door behind him. Just when Viktor got his bearings, the cyborg came back, dumped the half-filled cup of coffee on his jacket, then departed again, this time for good.

After a minute spent processing what just happened, the bemused Tarwill could only say three words.

"Oh my God."

A few days passed since then, and despite it being clean again, Viktor felt as though his jacket was still stained. A metaphorical one that couldn't be washed away. He considered burning it, but then thought about a time far ahead from now - after the whole Alex debacle, he and 1 are able to look back and laugh.

So instead, he kept it.

There was a knock on the office door. "Yes?"

It opened, revealing Laura. "Billy is here to see you, Mr. Strobovski."

"Oh Goddammit," Viktor cursed under his breath, "Is he going to walk out on me too? I don't know if I can take any more of this."

"... I'm not sure," Laura's confusion was apparent. "But may he speak with you? He does claim it to be 'important'." The word was stated mockingly.

"I can still hear you, Laura. It is important. So shut up." From down the hall, Billy cut in.

"Haha. I'm sure it is."

"Let him in," Viktor was facepalming, "Just. Stop bickering."

"Of course. Right away, sir-" Laura went to say, turning to leave, then immediately

"You heard him. Let me in." Billy was right in front of her. In response, she cracked her knuckles.

"With pleasure." Quickly, she gripped the well-made robot by the arm, and threw him overhead and into the office. It left him crashing onto the floor. Viktor could only helplessly look on, as Billy got up, staring Laura down.

But all she did was wave, uttering in a saccharine voice, "Good luck, Billy! I'm rooting for you!" before shutting the door. Only then, did he dust himself off.

"Good to see you," Viktor then greeted, drawing his guest's attention. "Is this about Erie? I swear, she's never usually like this."

Billy blinked, then tilted his head. "No…? I'm not sure why you suspect that. Though, I will say that I'm sorry to hear about Scrina's disappearance. She must be devastated." An understatement, but Viktor didn't want to go into it.

"Yes, well," He changed the subject, "Be that the case, what can I do for you?"

"This matter is more accurately, what I can do for you," Billy then presented, then asked, "Before I continue, is there anyone who's guarding Alex?"

"No, but a cell in the bunker works well enough."

"Then," The robot replied, confidently, "I'd like to offer my surveillance. I will keep him out of trouble, make sure no one gets attacked by him again. And if there're any new developments, you will know as soon as possible." A roll of blueprints appeared in his hand as he selected it, unveiling it to Viktor from on his desk.

If its appearance didn't already give it away, the title explained everything. The "Well-Made Containment Unit". Dear Christ above.

"He will stay in this," Billy continued, "It has been tested, and deemed 'Alex-proof'. What do you think?" To be perfectly honest, this wasn't going to work. Billy was never much of a combatant. If Alex escaped, he would get ripped apart. Then his next body. Then the next. And so on, into a big, metallic mess.

That is, if Alex didn't just possess him into doing his bidding. Despite the aforementioned lack of fighting skill, he did have strength in numbers. The well-made robot(s) was but a free army for the demon.

Viktor could not, in good conscience, allow it.

"Say Alex did break out. How would you escort him back?" What was meant to be a deterrent only made Billy's grin widen.

"That could never happen. However, in the very, very low chance it does, I am prepared. Observe." Stepping back, one of Billy's hands retracted, being replaced with a bullet barrel, but it was rather tiny.

"Laser," He identified, then the barrel grew larger for every new ammunition, "Tranquilizer, pistol, rifle, missile. And…" Another pause, and a pair of hatches opened at his shoulders. By now, his face was straight-up smug. "Mini rockets."

"Holy shit," Viktor couldn't help laughing a bit. He'd really gone the whole nine yards for this. It was getting harder to decline, based on the presentation alone. Still an absurdly terrible idea, but… The Tarwill would be lying if he said he wasn't growing fond of it. "And, I assume you know how to use all of those? Aim properly and all?"

"Correct," Billy nodded, closing the hatches and bringing back his hand. "I would neutralize him. There is no need to worry; I've thought of every angle."

"What about possession?" There. That had to be the kicker.

"Yes, that as well," The robot replied, nonchalantly, "I highly doubt he will be able to pierce into this mind." He lifted a fist, knocking his cranium, which made muffled, but unmistakably metallic thunk sounds.

If Billy was trying to imply that his head was too thick, Viktor wasn't sure if he knew what that was supposed to mean. But Billy, being Billy, most likely took it literally.

"So, Alex's tactics have a density limit? Fascinating…" But Billy didn't correct him, only welling in pride. Fuck. His smile was so charming. If Viktor said no now… "Alright. I'll give you a shot. Please don't blow it-"

He didn't get to finish his statement, as Billy approached, reached across the desk, and vigorously shook his hand with an excitedly firm grip. Aside from flinching, Viktor did nothing else but listen to the motorized whirring from the sheer speed and ferocity.

Billy, meanwhile, was too elated to notice in the slightest. He was barely finishing proper sentences, he was talking so fast. "Oh thank you so much Mr. Strobovski it is an honor and a privilege to serve you sir I promise that I won't let you down you can count on me I am going to get started right away thank you once again and have a good day sir!"

The very next thing he knew, Viktor was alone in the office, the door shutting indicating that the well-made robot had departed. But even then, that wasn't the end of it.

"Ask me how it went. Ask me how it went." The speed was slowing.

A sigh from Laura, tone deadpan. "How did it go?"

"He said yes. You know what that means?"

"Allow me to grow a mouth so I can eat my words. You can watch if you like."

"... I'll pass."

"Jokes aside, good job. Don't die, okay?"

"Absolutely not."

What had Viktor done?

Over the next… Well over a year, he would come to regret that decision, until finally, he had to cut Billy loose. It was for the better, really; that sheer confidence, that drive and joy, had waned and wilted until he'd become no more than a shell of his former self.

Even as he begged, pleaded, tried to make a case, Viktor couldn't let it keep happening.

Alex, a monster in more ways than one, was back in his care. Aldurra too, but honestly Viktor was even more unsure what to do with him. Surely it's not right, just because of where he came from.

After all, it was already proven, by Erie and Laura both, that Aldurra and the old murders are related. He really is just trying to avenge them. But, then what? There it was, the tricky part.

Finally, there was 1. Ever since that day, there was nothing but silence from him. In hindsight, he could've tried to be more sensitive to his viewpoint. It cost him a dear friend, and a gifted coding expert. Laura was really skilled too, but 1 was on a whole other level.

Aside from Scrina's more recent repair, the project of bringing back Candice and Olivia seemed hopeless. Until, one day.

It was a few after what felt like an impossible encounter - the encounter. Strangely, the esteemed visitor mistook Viktor as a mysterious voice, calling him over here. No, that wasn't part of his skillset, but the coincidences led to that chance meeting, so not all is lost!

He even asked a question that perplexed him. How does one leave the Internet? Specifically, to return to a computer, back to where one's game is.

Lord, he even came with riddles! Viktor found he would probably be pondering it for weeks.

Now, though, was a semi-frequent trip to the morgue, hidden in a secret room only a close few of Viktor's entourage knew about. Ever since the increasing likelihood of failure, those poor souls were sent here to rest.

Except when he got there, he could hear rattling. An intruder? Viktor sped over to where the noises came from, but to his surprise, he only found a shaking latch, its occupant making all the ruckus. In front of it now, it was none other than

Candice's.

Viktor hurriedly opened it, and almost immediately was pelted by the fairy, as she made a mad dash out of confinement. The attack was enough to knock him down with a stun.

Meanwhile, Candice landed cleanly with an audible "Phew! Finally! I was starting to think nobody came here anymore!" As Viktor reoriented himself, he found her stretching. The two caught eyes, and her cat smile grew.

"Oh! Mr. Strobovski! Thank you for rescuing and slash or reviving me!" She equipped her wand, twirling it around. "For that, you get ooone free wish!" To be frank, this was completely unlike anything the Tarwill was expecting, let alone for her to take it so… Casually.

Says… Himself. Past him. Yeah.

"Uh… No problem? But I only opened the door," He clarified, "Someone else must've, but how…?"

"... Oh!" Candice blinked, immediately putting away her item. "Then it'll be my mission to find them! But before that…" She paused in thought, realizing the time. "Gee, it's been quite a while! And only now they figured out how to use my potions?! Unbelievable…"

"Your potions?" Viktor asked, dumbly. If that was all it ever took, he swore…

"Specifically: Immortality!" Candice swiped a hand across her swirly belt buckle, and out popped a bottle with magical fanfare. She snatched it and posed heroically. "How do you think I look this good at 942? And deadn't?" She giggled, pressing a finger to her cheek with a cutesy wink.

"I feel like such a jackass…" Viktor muttered under his breath, hiding his face.

"... Hm," Candice noticed, tilting her head. "Guess that means no one else's come back, huh? Are any of them here? I could help fix that!" Without waiting for an answer, she flew off, checking the nearby slots, quickly finding one. "Olivia! There she is! Time to wake up, Sleeping Beauty!"

"H-Hey, wait, don't open that-!" Viktor warned, but Candice did anyway. Sliding out the tray, there was a sudden, very noticeable silence.

Finally, Candice broke it. "Aw, Olivia… What'd he do to you, girl? Almost nothing but bones! Poor thing…"

"Does that mean she really can't come back?" Viktor tentatively asked.

With a sigh, Candice glanced at him, a bit more seriously. "No, she absolutely can. But she'll be stuck like this - it only makes you alive and slash or young again. No brain, no healing."

"... I don't understand."

"Think of it like your mask. Without it, you can't regenerate."

"Oh." Once he processed that, Candice went to another slot, opening it and seeing what was left of Dolly.

"... Ah. And she can't at all." She re-confirmed. Using the same method as before, she produced a flower, resting it on top of the cotton and fabric, before closing the door. Another, for Ms. Immortal, who's contents was just her broom. Asmodena's had her box of chalk and Pusheen t-shirt, and Viktor could swear Candice nearly lost her cool. After another look-over, she turned to Viktor and asked, "Where's Scrina's?"

"Actually, she was found, and fixed up not too long ago," Out of everything, at least there was that bit of good news. "So, she's alive and well." Candice gaped, joy returning.

"Ohmigosh ohmigosh ohmigosh! You know what?!" She zoomed back to Olivia, who was still out on her tray. With some effort, she was… Warped into Candice's belt. Okay, even for Viktor, that was a bit much. But all he could do was trust in the fairy. "I have to talk to her! Let's go!" Shutting the slot at last, she drug Viktor out of the room, back to the main corridors of the school.

But she didn't stop there, flying the two of them down the halls, passing by rooms, ascending and descending floors, all the while repeatedly calling out for the little robot. The Tarwill had no other choice but brace himself against the momentum.

"... Candice?" Marzia spoke, and the fairy paused, waving at her. The language teacher sprinted over to them, but Candice just swept her into a hug, laughing all the while.

"Miss Vat! You're a sight for sore eyes!" From not far off, Viktor noticed someone else approaching.

Angellica, commonly nicknamed "Angell"; the protagonist of his game. She was overcome in surprise.

Angell🪷 (@VLANGELLICA)
It actually worked…

She said, through the chat feature. It caused Marzia and Candice to stop, looking over at her. Angell was promptly held next.

"So that was you?! Aw, Angell, that's so sweet! You get ooone free wish!"

Angell🪷 (@VLANGELLICA)
I waited for hours, but nothing happened. So I thought it was too late.
I won't waste it, I promise.

Angell replied, meaning every word as she embraced the fairy.

"Not to ruin this heartwarming moment, but have any of you seen Scrina?" Viktor finally added.

Angell🪷 (@VLANGELLICA)
Oh yes, Scrina!
She's at Erie's. I think she might be settled back in.

Angell answered, with ease. Candice let her go, overcome with an idea.

"We should go over right now! And surprise her!"

Angell🪷 (@VLANGELLICA)
Let's be calm about it…

Angell tried to settle the fairy down. Then, like before, she drug the protagonist away, without any further delay.

"... Hm," Viktor commented, "That went well."

Perhaps the rest of the day will be more calm, he thought. And it was, at least until several hours later. He'd gone to the sunset-lit roof to get some air, and when he turned to leave

Olivia was standing in front of him, two meters away, dressed in her usual gothic attire, though tattered and ripped from the Incident. While she lacked eyes, glowing white pupils had appeared in the sockets.

Viktor leapt backward in shock, and plummeted all the way down to the ground, face-up. Fall damage had long ago been disabled for him, along with several others who chose to opt-in for that sort of thing, so he was unharmed. Just… Bewildered.

Plus, thank fuck it's been too warm recently for there to be snow. The grass was actually quite dry today. How lucky.

"Son of a bitch." He muttered, regaining himself and rising again. Down came the skeleton of a protagonist, carried by Scrina. Candice did the same with Angell, and all of them were having a good laugh.

"Damn, I really got you good," Olivia was saying, "I didn't even get to say, 'Boo. I'm undead.'"

"It's… It's good to see you again." Viktor tried to politely reply.

"No need for the formalities, Tarwill," She waved her finger, tone abruptly changed. Somehow, she manifested a scythe, pointing it at him. "Now. Where's Alex." This… Came out of nowhere. The others shared his sentiment.

"Hey, Olivia, um…" Scrina tried to say, "I know it was bad, but…"

"No," Olivia sighed, holding firm. "He needs to pay for what he's done. Erie and Angell both told us they weren't at liberty to say - meaning that he's still alive. And you're hiding him somewhere."

"C'mon…" Candice butt in, "I'm sure they have very good reasons why it's the way it is." She turned to Viktor, in an attempt to set everything straight. "I'm sorry, Mr. Strobovski, it wasn't supposed to go like this. It was only a prank, that's all!"

Viktor thought through his next choice of words very carefully. It was imperative that there was as little risk taken as possible. "There's no point in hiding it, is there? Well, here's what I'll do. I'll tell you, but you'll all have to agree to a few things."

"... Go on." Olivia took the bait, retracting her weapon.

"One, two, three, four, five, annnd… Six!" Denied finished counting, before handing all the filets over. The both of them were inside the open cell, as Aldurra received each one.

This was definitely the weirdest thing to become a regular activity, but the merman would always come through, evading getting caught and keeping himself safe… All to give him a bite to eat. It was thoughtful, somehow. And over time, the demon had learned to control the urges telling him to essentially inhale the fish meat.

That was because the selections were different every time, as to not make this boring.

He couldn't keep himself from growing respect for the odd blue bastard. Even the descriptor felt less hostile and more… Friendly, lately.

When not making sure to give Aldurra proper meals, there were moments where the demon would randomly find Denied, while serving his sentence. But he'd believe it if it'd been intentional, since what made this more evident was how, apparently, the merman wasn't much a fan of the Wintertime. He recalled how he mentioned that robot "brother" of his, in relation to it.

"Oh, yeah, and Billy keeps gettin' after me about layering up and all that. Sooo annoying, right? Like, what, ya think I don't try?!" Though it was nice to rag on him, the demon could tell that Denied wasn't being completely serious. A small hint of appreciation lingered, and maybe that was where the truth lie.

Anyway, with all these visits and those "Funny seein' you here!"s, Denied seemed to care about Aldurra. A lot.

Oh, and occasionally they would hear some snide remark from Alex, but the two had wordlessly agreed on ignoring him.

"Thanks, as always." Aldurra admitted, and it never got easier.

"Of course! Have you been doing okay?"

"About as 'okay' as ever, I suppose."

"Ah… I don't blame you. Considering…"

This confused the demon. "Considering what? If something crazy happened, I don't know of it. I'm never told anything." Denied stared at him with wide eyes. "Terrible, I know."

"No, it's- Well, yes, but…" The merman faced him fully. His voice lowered. "Not even how… Scrina was repaired?" The statement made Aldurra freeze.

"She… She was?" The words came out squeaky.

"Oh, God. Aldurra…" Denied trailed off, earfins drooping. "I really thought it was, like… Oh, they just won't let you see her, or something shitty like that. They seriously never-?!" He cut himself off, as Aldurra looked at the open cell door. The merman immediately caught on, taking his arm. "N-No, don't. Yeah, it's tempting as fuck, but you can't just-!"

He got up, pulling Denied with him. "She's here. And so is…" Candice. Olivia. And the three of them were accompanied by Angell.

"Wait, what? If she's down here, then…!" Denied abruptly let go and left the cell, starting to close the door. "We can't be seen like this!"

Aldurra felt attacked, grabbing it from the other side, pushing. "Hey! You asshole! Who's side are you on?!"

"Yours! But- But if anyone knows-"

"Open the fucking DOOR!" Aldurra roared, his fury causing a layer of persuasion to leak out. "I HAVE to see them! They're all I have left in this wretched, pathetic, MISERABLE thing we call an 'EXISTENCE'!"

Of course, this kind of theatrics wasn't going to work - Denied had no doubt put on the mandatory anti-possession helmet, intangible to the senses, but absolutely effective. Still, he fought. Just when he was starting to trust him, just when he was starting to like him, just when he was starting to think they might be friends.

And the two-faced motherfucker chooses to backstab him. Nothing in Aldurra sensed that kind of betrayal.

Denied suddenly let go, the door sliding wide open. "Them? There's… Others?"

Aldurra paused for only a moment, observing the scene in front of him. Then, he ran off, at top speed. Fuck Denied. Fuck Alex. Fuck Viktor. Fuck everything and everybody else, all that mattered was family. He rounded yet another corner, and saw them.

Scrina, in peak condition. Candice, as lively as could be. Olivia, who was… A skeleton. And, of course, the blonde young woman in the lead, Angell.

Angell🪷 (@VLANGELLICA)
Stay behind me. We don't know which one this is, yet.

Angell said, but entirely in text? It was weird, but Aldurra could see and read it. The other girls did as they were told, while she rose an arm to shield them. In her hand appeared a pistol, and he could tell it was loaded with silver bullets.

If Aldurra made one wrong move, that shit will burn.

Angell🪷 (@VLANGELLICA)
Produce your scythes.

Reluctantly, he followed her command. The hands he quickly grew to love shifted away into those clunky, but solid blades. More silence, before Angell put away the weapon.

Angell🪷 (@VLANGELLICA)
Alright. Aldurra, then.
You're not scheduled for comm. service today, but…
Say hello.

She let them pass. Yet, they wouldn't move - Candice had a hand over her mouth in shock, while Scrina was rooted with nervousness. Olivia, on the other hand, had a blank-looking stare. It made sense.

Finally, Candice flew over first, inspecting him more closely. Then, with a soft voice, she spoke. "Â̶͎l̵̗͑d̴̲͒ū̷ͅṛ̵̎r̴̯͠a̸̙̐? I really thought you were… Well… Gone forever."

The pronunciation was flawless. Last he knew, she was still learning the nuances - only Asmodena had been able to pull it off.

He blinked a few times. Shit. No. He couldn't cry. Not again. As a distraction, he switched back to his simplistic hands.

"You can't even imagine how much I've missed you guys," The words fell out of his mouth at last. "... Wait, no. You can." Candice couldn't help but laugh, opening her arms.

"Aw, c'mere you big lug!" And embraced him. Aldurra promptly returned it, struggling against his failing river dam. "Scrina, Olivia, it's okay! Angell's right; come say hi!"

"Here, hold my hand. We'll go together," Olivia assured, and Scrina nodded and followed. In a mutter, she added jokingly, "Don't mind the bones." It got the little robot to smile. Then, Olivia addressed the demon. "Aldurra, right? A shame we never properly met 'til now. All I got was Tom's shitty let's play footage."

He paused for a moment, as Candice let him go. "That's… Embarrassing. And, er, what the fuck happened to you?"

"Just became that asshole's chew toy for a bit," Olivia shrugged it off, tapping her cheekbone. "But it's all good. I think I like the new look. I mean, I can do this." Out of nowhere, she spawned… A scythe?! "I donno. Maybe 'dying' unlocked something in me. So I'm a reaper now. That's my character arc."

"You would make the best reaper," He muttered, awestruck. He gave her head a small pat. "God, you've truly found yourself. I'm so fuckin' proud of you."

A chuckle, as Olivia turned to Scrina. "See? He's harmless."

At last, she bravely said, "H-Hi, Aldurra. I, um. I like your new… Hands?" Very awkward, but he couldn't blame her at all. In response, he let her see them more clearly.

"Oh, thanks! I like them a lot, too. Also…" He trailed off, remembering something that now, was probably two years ago. It was so hard to accept. "Thanks for back then. That freezing soda outta nowhere? Badass. He never saw it coming."

"Ah, it's- It was nothing!" She stammered, modestly. The demon bent down closer to her level, gently bringing her into a hug.

"It was not 'nothing'. It led to you escaping. And it led us here. If not for that, things would be very different. You are so much stronger than you know, Scrina. Don't forget that." He could feel her shaking, but only a little. Over time, it calmed.

"But… Alex, he…"

"Is a freak," Aldurra finished for her. "Don't compare yourself to him."

"Mm. Okay…" Olivia approached and leaned into him.

"I would also like a hug." She announced.

"Group hug!" Candice chimed, including herself into the whole thing. They all failed to stifle their joy, their laughter, their relief.

Angell🪷 (@VLANGELLICA)
(I know what I want to wish for.)

And he completely forgot that Angell was still here, having watched the whole thing. Her message was unlike just earlier. Apparently she could send them in a more private matter? Like some kind of group chat? With just the five of them.

PoPiPo!🦋 (@CANDICEFAIRY)
(Really? What shall it be, Miss Angellica?)

Candice did it as well, somehow. It was like she knew she shouldn't speak it. Even so, she left the embrace, wand at the ready and posing whimsically. Well-rehearsed, as always. Aldurra missed it, among a lot of things.

Also, since when did Candice owe her a wish? What happened?

Angell🪷 (@VLANGELLICA)
(I wish that you and your matching characters would break Aldurra out of the bunker, and keep him safe.)

Holy fucking shit, did she really just

PoPiPo!🦋 (@CANDICEFAIRY)
(What?! Don't you know how wishing works?!
You can't just use them on others!
I mean… I want him to be free too, but…
You brought me back, so this is for you!)

The fairy was reluctant. Ah. So that's how that came about. And with Candice, would come Olivia. Since there wasn't anyone else present, this was most likely the best that could've been done. Gratitude welled inside of him. This was still far better than nothing.

Angell🪷 (@VLANGELLICA)
(I don't need anything, and I promised I wouldn't waste it.
So… Please.)

Angell wasn't backing down, bearing a ghost of a smile. Candice stood there in thought for a short while. Afterward, she nodded. She turned, taking Aldurra by the arm.

PoPiPo!🦋 (@CANDICEFAIRY)
(Don't let go, everyone. We're going home.)

She began to wave her wand, it starting to glow a bright, pastel pink, as well as her eyes. She looked back.

PoPiPo!🦋 (@CANDICEFAIRY)
(Thanks, Angell. You're a real sweetheart.)

Aldurra only caught the young woman nodding, before his vision was briefly obscured in white. Soon, however, he could see again - and the four of them were in front of a building, stars littering the night sky. It greatly resembled his school, but not exactly. Surely the basics of it were there, but it was obvious that changes were made, either as a lapse in memory, or done so purposefully.

Their original game and map were long gone, they all knew it. And still, they had rebuilt it, but as something new. Something theirs.

"Here we are!" The fairy mentioned, as they all separated. She flew over and unlocked the gates. She glanced at Aldurra with a contented cat smile, eyes and wand back to normal. "Welcome home, Â̶͎l̵̗͑d̴̲͒ū̷ͅṛ̵̎r̴̯͠a̸̙̐."

Chapter Text

It was early morning. Pouring rain. Flying wasn't recommended. Even if it was, Dia was not quite so receptive towards doing so as Dave was. Understandable, it wasn't for everyone.

Instead, purple umbrella in hand, Billy walked him to school. His first day, he knew, down at Baldina's. She was one of the few Webspace residents to have stayed true to the point of her game. Except, of course, actually teaching, and not the gimmick of the collecting and survival objectives.

The walk there felt so much shorter than it was, but this was only due to being able to get the young gem to talk. While the two were at least acquainted, it was nothing more. Which was why it was Dave's suggestion - a bonding experience. It wasn't a confident one, for he clearly was on the fence between that or going himself, but… Well, here they were.

Anyway, even as introverted as Billy himself was, he did his best.

Nice hoodie. "Th-Thanks." A real diamond, right? "Yeah." Does he have any lore? "No." None at all? "Never made any." How does he feel about… Rain? "Too wet. Too cloudy. Makes me tired." Are sunny days better? "I guess." How did he find the Webspace? "You w-wouldn't believe me."

That sounded like a challenge. "Try me."

At last, Dia looked up at him. "I came here with someone. A, uh…" He trailed off, as if wanting to back out.

"I will not judge you." Billy assured, lightly.

"Okay, w-well, he…" Dia started to explain, "It was his first time being Online, and d-didn't know how it worked. He mentioned being called here by a strange voice, and I-I almost ended up helping him. Then I found out about Dave, and that kinda… Fell apart." He paused. "Haven't seen him since. M-Maybe he found out how to go back home."

"Home…?" The robot gently inquired.

"On the computer, where his game is, he said. If only it was that easy…"

Going back… A game that's gone Online would've done so with the full intent on not doing that; why would they? It was hard to comprehend.

Unless… He did not want to be there in the first place. That was the only reasonable conclusion.

"But, hey, it's not like I miss being on a PC," Dia suddenly continued, desperately, "In a tiny, empty game, crowded with weirdos and a player. Especially when she just abandons you for like a bajillion years, without saying anything. Not at all! I'm glad I walked out! Never looked back! Never been better!"

Billy wasn't sure if he meant it or not, so he chose to believe him. "I see. I'm sorry about Kelly."

The young gem froze, bearing an expression that Billy struggled to read. Finally, Dia looked away, tone angry-sounding. "Don't say her name."

Oh dear. It was that bad. "My apologies. I will refrain."

The rest of the way was silent. He couldn't believe he crossed the line so quickly. Entering the school grounds, Billy lightly stopped him. From his inventory, he selected his spare umbrella. "Here. In case you need one." Wordlessly, Dia took it.

It felt like a gamble, but Billy wanted to try. "I really am sorry, Dia. I had no idea."

"... It's fine. I just don't wanna talk about it." Better than the silent treatment.

"Understood. Will you be okay?" There was a nod. "Then, I'll be here to pick you up. See you later." Dia took the opportunity to leave rather quickly, going straight for the main building.

When he was inside, Billy sighed to himself, turning away and departing. Classes end at 3 PM. He internally set an alarm for 2:30. Maybe by then, the rain will quit. For now, he found that he ought to discuss this with Dave. Perhaps he knew more about it.

Once again, he started walking.

In a quieter area, he heard something, and paused to listen. "There you are. You motherfucking snitch." He barely processed the words, being rammed into the nearby alley, dropping the umbrella. He quickly regained himself and recognized his aggressor.

Aldurra.

Even while pinned to the wall, Billy dodged his attacks - one arm bearing a hand, the other a scythe. He managed to kick the taller demon away, getting some distance. He turned his hand into a tranquilizer barrel, trying to aim.

"Not this time, jackass!" Aldurra yelled as he charged, his blade blocking the darts that came for him. When close enough, it cleanly sliced off Billy's arm, sleeve and all. Aldurra growled in triumph. "Now you look more like him."

Whoever he was talking about was lost on Billy. In any case, the best plan of action was to get his umbrella. He reeled back his elbow and jabbed his adversary in the sternum, using the stun to sidestep over, picking up the item. He hurriedly closed it up, wielding it like a blunt weapon.

This time, he bolted right back, striking with all he could. Aldurra took a few hits before it grew dented, possibly no longer functional. That only became all the more probable as the demon bit into the object and ripped it away from him, tossing it aside and out of sight. Billy tried to throw a punch, but his hand was crushed in the other's maw.

Aldurra promptly paused to spit out the pieces, and all Billy could think of doing at this point was fleeing. He brought out his jetpack, taking to the air.

But he only made it about three meters up, when he suddenly saw Aldurra's scythe pierce through his torso. "And just where do you think you're going, punk?!" Releasing, the robot began to fall, but Aldurra caught him by the leg, and used the momentum to slam him into the ground, repeatedly. Grunting, he added, "You're. Staying. Right. Here!"

The final one broke the joints in his knee, but the demon had stopped long enough for Billy to roll over and realize it - the same leg, from years ago. That does it.

Glancing at what remained of his hand, the wiring and endoskeleton was intact - he could still move it with ease.

"Alright," He finally said, as he detached the injured leg from the calf down, then undid his tie. "Now you've really made me angry." He tied up the excess trouser leg, and despite what was happening just before, Aldurra watched on.

"You have like, a bunch of bodies," He noted, as Billy did his best to stand. "What would one hurt?"

"This one," The robot explained simply, righting himself, "Means a lot to me. And you've just ruined it." Guided by his fury alone, he somehow managed to sprint, calf raised to attack. The attempts were much more focused, blocking and dodging whatever Aldurra tried.

The demon eventually got a comeback, kicking Billy in his remaining leg, and slammed him into the bricked wall, face-first. It wasn't hard enough to crumble it, which was strange at first; wouldn't he have wanted to use as much force as possible? Perhaps even toss him through it entirely?

Then, Billy felt it - the demon's hand on his head, dragging his face across the rough surface. It was tearing the synthetic skin nearly to ribbons.

Oh. He wanted him to suffer to the end. Got it.

Really, he could just shut down this vessel, then retrieve it later once Aldurra finished having his fun - and that would've been the most logical answer.

But no. Billy wasn't going to let him have the last laugh.

Another of himself, stationed at home, heard the front doors open. "Heyyy! Billy, you here?!" Oh! It was Sam; she sounded excited. He, #18647, marched over to greet her, smiling.

"Hello, Sam. It's nice to see you." His tone was chipper as ever.

Back at the alley. His prior self, #120, finally had enough and managed to hit Aldurra into letting go. He quickly turned, following up with a strong kick, sending the demon flying into the dumpster. He just barely kept from hitting the ground in the process.

One of his ocular lenses had cracked, greatly impairing his depth perception. No matter; he had to finish this.

"You're never gonna believe it," Sam continued, smirking, "But I think I… Well actually, I don't know for sure juuust yet, but I got a lead."

"On what?" #18647 asked, curiously.

"Okay, so," Sam began to explain, "Based on everything we know, I might've finally found her. She joined the forum recently. Sure, she only posted twice, but hey, it's something!"

In the blink of an eye, Billy flashed back to certain moments in question - there was this Internet forum Sam frequented, based on discussions and findings concerning the Webspace. According to her, the users considered it much the same as most Humans who visited - a game. As for Sam, she played along with its mentality.

Aldurra rose and jumped out of the container with a roar, barreling into #120. This led to him being knocked down completely, the enraged demon huffing down at him with no indication of mercy.

"What is your problem?" Billy couldn't help in asking, as nearly every other option was exhausted by now. "And, how did you escape?"

"Unlike you, I can keep personal information to myself," Aldurra sneered, pressing his foot down on Billy's chest. The casing began to bend and crack from the pressure, moreso than it already had. "I don't give a shit how many yous you got, so long as I can teach you a lesson. You knew I was drugged up, and you used that. And then you told that two-faced, backstabbing brother of yours! I must've been this big, fucking JOKE!"

Brother… Denied? What had he done?

Billy couldn't respond. He wasn't sure how.

"May I see them?" #18647 asked Sam, and she nodded, forwarding two screenshots into their DMs.

"Way ahead of you!" He opened the first one, reading it.

Distinguishing Instances?

MissShelly [7:18 AM]
Hi, I'm just wondering if there's a way to tell the difference between multiple game characters. I heard there are separate copies, and that Daves are very common. How would you be able to know who's who?

And then, the second one.

MissShelly [9:02 PM]
Ah, I see. Thank you so much, everyone. I might give that a try.

"Well you know what?!" Aldurra kept going, with a disgusted hiss, "I've had it with you privileged brats! I'm gonna-!"

"I'm sorry." #120 interrupted. The anger was gone. While he couldn't answer for Denied, he could for himself.

"Yeah, you better be fucking sorry- Wait," The demon paused. "Just so I heard you clearly, run that by me again."

"I'm sorry," Billy repeated, stressing the phrase, "I didn't realize how important that was to you. Plus, I just assumed that you would've been completely sober. And awake in a quarter of the time."

"You-! You fucking-! FOUR TRANQ DARTS?!"

"Alex did."

The demon stopped. "Oh, Goddammit."

"I get what you mean," #18647 nodded once over. "I assume there's no further information on her profile?"

"That's right," Sam sighed, "It's almost totally blank. Just how it is sometimes. Though, I will try and get in touch with her, and maybe we'll learn more. But, God, could you imagine? Kelly, trying to find Dave?!"

"I'm sure he would be happy to know that." His words were sincere, his grin growing soft. It was easy to picture such a thing. But then, there was Dia. He was completely lost on how he would take the news. Well… They'll all figure it out somehow, Billy hoped.

"Oh yeah, go ahead and pass it on. Like, even if this falls flat, ya know."

"Of course!" Only Dave, though. For now.

Aldurra heaved a breath. "That son of a bitch is all you had to go off of, huh."

"Yes," #120 replied, "It was risky to do any less. I'm sorry that I've mistreated you."

His captor stared down at him, emotions shifting. "Didn't expect someone like you to fold like that. How am I supposed to beat the Hell out of you when you're being so reasonable?"

"If it's any consolation, I look like a mess. Repairing…" Billy trailed off momentarily. Dave could not see him like this, even though… The robot played the stalling off as a glitch. "Will be. Tedious." Another pause. "A friend once told me that Alex has pitted us against each other, knowingly or not. I believe her. He's the cause of everything."

"I hate that you're right-" Aldurra went to say, but cut off when he was whacked by a second umbrella. Unfortunately, it wasn't nearly hard enough to leave any kind of impact, and Billy distinctly heard a ringing sound. Both looked over to see

Dia, who promptly began to shake in regret. Half of his arm slipped out of his hoodie sleeve and clattered to the ground. The young gem was like a deer in the headlights.

Billy immediately panicked, gripping Aldurra's ankle. In the meantime, he sent two others of himself to this location. He warned, "If you so much as touch him…"

In response to all this, Aldurra huffed down at him again. "What do you take me for? Even if I wanted to, it wouldn't be necessary - the kid can't even keep himself together." Back to Dia, he motioned for him to shoo. "Now, I'm only going to tell you once: Buzz off. This isn't any of your business."

"... Did two of you just leave? What're you in a hurry for?" Oh no. Sam noticed. #18647 struggled to work out how he was going to bluff this. He couldn't.

"I will tell you when I am able." Instead, he bought some time.

"B-But, you're… You're hurting him…" Dia dared to speak, but was rooted to his spot.

"That's all? He'll live. He's just a machine." Aldurra retorted lightly.

"Yeah, well, he's-..." Dia stopped himself, as though the statement would've given too much of something away.

"Go. Do as he says. Please do not get involved." In turn, Billy spoke vaguely. His backup was almost here. Just a bit longer.

"N-No! I can't! I-I…!" The area around them was darkening. Was Billy's optics failing? Wait, no. Dia was… Getting brighter. Almost glowing. When he noticed, he swiftly pulled off his hood, amplifying the situation. The young gem's voice rose. "I can't lET HIM KILL YOU!"

Then, he shrieked, the whole alley becoming flooded with white light. Instinctively, Billy squeezed his eyes shut and covered them with his arm.

From what else he could hear, however, Aldurra yelled out in protest. "Jesus CHRIST, how in the- are you-?! Cut that out!" Those last words sounded different, and immediately following, it all stopped. Dia fell to his knees, but as Billy took a look around, Aldurra was blinded.

"You- You little TWERP!" He gazed through everything as he moved, trying to locate Dia, which freed Billy in the process. "When I get my hands on you…!" That was all the motivation he needed to rise.

He maneuvered around the demon, stashing his dismembered limbs, as well as Dia's arm, into his inventory. Finally, he hoisted the still-recovering gem over his shoulder, booking it out of there as fast as his legs could carry him, with whatever remained of them.

All Dia did was yelp in surprise, but nothing else.

His other selves rerouted to where he was heading, and before long, the two were in a safer location. Only then did he let go of Dia, who seemed to be processing the events of just minutes ago. Billy listened for approaching steps, knowing all too well that it didn't matter if they made any sound - an Alex always knows where his prey is.

Then, next to him, Dia was hyperventilating. Billy wasn't certain how to help him, exactly, but recalled when he himself was on the verge of a mental breakdown… He gently brought him close. "It's alright, Dia. I'm here. I'm here."

"That… That was… An Alex!" Dia was stuttering. "I thought you were-! God, I…!" Billy said nothing else, just let him talk. "And I just- just got in the way! I lose my forearm, and I freeze! But you! You…!" The young gem pulled back suddenly, looking right at Billy, voice quieting. "You're all… Broken. And you somehow…"

With what was left of his face, Billy managed a nervous smile. "I know. I must appear so disfigured and scary. I'm sorry you had to see me like this, Dia. I do appreciate you standing up for me, but overall, I'm just glad you're unharmed. Mostly." He selected the shiny appendage, handing it to him. "Can you be repaired?"

Dia's eyes lit up, taking the part. He sounded a lot calmer. "Yeah. This- This isn't the first time. I need some resin, that's all."

"Resin…" Billy echoed, then stopped. His other selves were here. Dia turned and saw.

"I believe I have that back at my house," One of them said, continuing where #120 had left off. The expression Dia made indicated confusion. "Oh. Dave must've not told you yet. It's me. They're all me." The second one next to him waved.

"So you're, uh… One person? In three places?"

"Or more, yes."

"OR MORE?!"

He couldn't blame Dia for being so weirded out. It was a very typical reaction to his way of living. He briefly recalled Dave's, beyond just the coincidence of "meeting the same Billy" - as it was more like, "always meeting the same Billy".

"Anyway, let's get you patched up. Then, you're going back to school."

"Yes, sir." Dia's voice went meek as he avoided Billy's eyes, but in this instance, he had to be stern.

Eventually, the four of them made it to his home, and right before the trip, #120 deactivated himself. Waiting there was #18647 and Sam. Once she saw the state #120 was in, she made a face.

"Holy sh-..." She stopped, noticing Dia. "Toledo." She turned to #18647, no-nonsense in tone. "Okay, which one did it?"

"Aldurra." His displeasure was apparent.

"Oh God. A… A Human…? Like, a real one…?" Dia was whispering to himself.

"Oh, yeah!" Sam gave him a lazy grin. "Dia, right? I'm Sam, this guy's player. Nice to meet ya!" She reached out for a handshake. The young gem hid instead of replying. "Aw. Shy little guy."

Down in the lab, #120 was laid out on an operating table. The Billy in front of him sat in the nearby chair, leaned forward, elbows resting on the table, hands interlaced over his face. At least a dozen thoughts were going through his mind.

TELL DAVE THE FOLLOWING: DIA ALMOST SKIPPED SCHOOL; HIS ISSUES CONCERNING KELLY; SAM'S POSSIBLE LEAD ON FINDING HER; ALDURRA JUMPED ME IN AN ALLEY, ALMOST ATTACKED DIA (WHICH IS HOW I KNOW HE WAS SKIPPING), AS WELL AS COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY RUINED DAVE'S KNEE REPAIR; |

… Which was its own episode in of itself.

Yes, that was very, very, very important to Billy, so much so that

DAVE, DID YOU KNOW THAT I NEVER DID ANYTHING ELSE TO IT SINCE THEN? NOT EVEN FIX THE SKIN? YOUR REPAIR WAS SO SPECIAL AND MEANINGFUL, THAT I LEFT IT EXACTLY HOW IT WAS. BUT NOW IT'S BROKEN AGAIN, EXCEPT THE WHOLE DAMN VESSEL IS A WRECK, AND I COULD NEVER MAKE YOU |

Billy faceplanted on the table. He needed to calm down. This was ridiculous. The more he was forced to confront it, the more he had to realize that this sort of thing was inevitable. Eventually, one way or another, something would injure #120's knee.

And today: Two years, fifteen weeks, and two days after he walked and fell out of that tree to talk to Dave directly… It happened.

Billy lifted his head again, glancing back at it. With a heavy heart, he went to retrieve his tools. While Dave's help all that time ago won't apply any longer, Billy will still have the memory of it. Even so, he felt a new streak of wetness down his cheek, swiping at it.

Tear ducts. He wasn't sure if that was a regretful addition. Even if it were, he simply did not have the motivation to remove them from all twenty-eight thousand bodies. Sure, all he had was time, but the effort? No, it was better to let it be.

And then, he remembered what Aldurra mentioned about Denied. That… Was yet another thing, on the pile of things, of which to deal with. Later, he decided, but he noted it.

TELL DENIED THE FOLLOWING: ALDURRA JUMPED ME IN AN ALLEY; CALLED DENIED 'TWO-FACED' AND A 'BACKSTABBER', LEAVING ME TO WONDER WHAT HE'S BEEN UP TO.

Later came in the form of several hours, where he'd walked into the ocean, down the dropoff, and all the way to the dome. Entered the chamber, drained the water, and knocked. Not that it wouldn't have been possible for him to be seen from outside, or even through the doors.

Yes, he had to admit, DMing Denied would've made this far more efficient, but this warranted an in-person experience. And yes, ordinarily he would've been using a wetsuit for obvious reasons, but the day had been so rainy anyway, that it no longer mattered.

In the reflection of the clear entrance door, he saw it - a pinhole-sized, red pair of dots in his pupils. More self-restraint was required. He took a slow blink to settle down, and when he looked again, they were gone.

He didn't really want to scare him, after all. Just get some answers from his side of the story. Yet, it was difficult to not be the smallest bit peeved.

He saw his brother head to the door, letting him in. "Oh, hey! Uh… Wow, you kinda look like shit." To be perfectly frank, compared to this morning, this was quite tame. "Is there an emergency or somethin'? Wait, lemme check…" He pulled out his phone, then glanced back at Billy. "Hm, no news. Aight, well, let me get you a towel, okay? One sec."

He turned to leave, but Billy spoke up. "That won't be necessary. We need to talk." Denied stopped in his tracks, but didn't look back at him. No response. So, arms crossed, the robot continued, recounting the events. "I have always thought of you as a good person. But now, I must ask you: What have you been doing, brother?"

It took a minute of silence, but the merman faced him again, downtrodden. "It's… A long story. But I promise, I was only trying to help." That sounded more like the Denied he knew, but Billy had to withhold judgement for the time being.

"Please tell me. Everything," He paused for a moment, in realization. "... I have changed my mind. A towel would be nice."

It was indeed a lengthy tale, but he minded not. He listened intently, nodding along every so often, cozied up in a chair at his brother's kitchen island as he sat across from him. As it wore on, Billy's initial resentment gave way to sympathy, having a much clearer picture than previously.

"I wasn't trying to keep him from seeing family, like, that'd be the worst!" Denied was finishing up, "It's just, if anyone saw him out and me bein' responsible for it, we'd both be fucked, ya know? And who would help him then? Yeah, you would've probably bailed me out, but that would've led to this. I… Guess it don't matter now; it happened anyway."

"And, you'd become too suspicious to be trusted out there." Billy added at last.

"Oh my God, yeah! You get it!" Denied threw his arm in the air, then lay his chin on the marble surface. "It's just a big ol' mess of stealth and variables and shit, dude… I can't fight Viktor, none of us can. But since Aldurra's, well, out and about, maybe the 'others' he sensed got him outta there. It's weird, though; there's no Wanted listings or anything on the guy. Almost like Strobovski don't want him back."

"To be fair, his charges were basically negligible."

"Aside from your house? Yeah, pretty much!"

"And that only took me half an hour to fix," Denied couldn't hold back a laugh. "Anyway, thank you for letting me know. If I may say…" He paused, the merman rising back up and gesturing for him to continue. "I think it would be nice, if we could all be friends."

His brother gave a soft grin, but soon it changed into a smirk. "Except Alex. Fuck that guy."

"Oh, absolutely. Send him back down to Hell where he belongs." Billy replied, seamlessly. This time, it left Denied wheezing. A smile formed on the robot's face, full of relief compared to just a short while ago.

Chapter Text

Dave was far from the only one to receive the invitation. Wherever he went, he overheard the gossip. Between Dave #24 and 63, from 46 and 51, to 99, 88, and 77. And so on. It also didn't matter which game they originated from, whether from Fun Algebra Class, Sky High Adventure, House, The Future Is Here, or Dream (as a sidenote, perhaps it wasn't out-of-character for him to want to after all).

Those lower in their number were a little more skeptical, but the highers? Curious, if not enthusiastic. "Oh me oh my, what could the legendary Dave #1 possibly want to say to me?!" That sort of thing.

The first Dave to arrive, the eldest of them all, commonly referred to as simply "1". Suspected to be the wisest, as well.

Dave has never met him. However, many of his counterparts appeared to be in the same situation. But every single one of them would finally get the chance to. Tonight. At 8 PM sharp. He… Wasn't sure if he should go. It doesn't mention it being mandatory. What would skipping out hurt?

Yeah, that sounds good.

He paused, upon seeing a DM notification on his phone. From Viktor.

Viktor🎭 (@VSTROBOVSKI) [9:48 AM]
I realize that this is sudden, but I must discuss something urgent with you. It concerns the Dave Gathering.

Dave visibly cringed.

Dave_Oddity!🧰 (@DAVE_82) [9:49 AM]
You're going to ask me if I'll be attending, aren't you?

Maybe he shouldn't have come off like that, but it was difficult not to.

Viktor🎭 (@VSTROBOVSKI) [9:50 AM]
Yes.
In fact, I'm counting on it.

Dave_Oddity!🧰 (@DAVE_82) [9:50 AM]
No.

There was a lull.

Viktor🎭 (@VSTROBOVSKI) [9:52 AM]
Please hear me out.

Dave_Oddity!🧰 (@DAVE_82) [9:53 AM]
Fine.

Viktor was typing a lot now.

Viktor🎭 (@VSTROBOVSKI) [9:55 AM]
This is very unusual for 1. The timing is suspicious. And he is only inviting other Daves. I'm concerned about what it could mean.
All I am asking of you is to gather intel for me.

Dave_Oddity!🧰 (@DAVE_82) [9:56 AM]
… Because, I'm also a Dave.

He hoped it was obvious that he was pointing out how disrespectful this was.

Viktor🎭 (@VSTROBOVSKI) [9:56 AM]
I would ask Erie, but 1 can see through disguises. I have no other options.

Oh. Well. This was still not a good thing. And yet…

There was no getting around this, was there? He supposed that if Strobovski's going to him about something, he must really need the help. Dave sighed, mentally kicking himself for what he wrote next.

Dave_Oddity!🧰 (@DAVE_82) [9:59 AM]
Alright. I'll do it.

Viktor🎭 (@VSTROBOVSKI) [9:59 AM]
Thank you.

"... Okay, Dia, laying out the house rules," Later, Dave was telling him, "One: No friends over tonight. In fact, two: No parties. Someone else's? Three: Stay home. There's food in the fridge if you get hungry, and… If you need anything, just call Billy."

It had been thrilling to know that Dia settled in rather well in school, once he finally stayed the entire day. Immediately after, he'd stopped trying to play hooky.

Particularly, he found new companions in the form of two other gem characters, who, like him, both had 3D models - a Ruby Man who could regenerate any breaks, and a Golden Man who could turn into a fluid and use his form as such. Due to this, Dia was compelled enough to share his brightening skill, and the other two were awed. They seemed immune to blindness.

The strongest by far was Silver Man. He too didn't have a flat image, and dwarfed everyone else in height. He seemed to act more like an escort, not even attending the school itself.

… And beat anyone who tried to mess with them to a polygonal pulp.

Though, he took one look at Dia and saw him no differently than any other Diamond Man, integrating him into the group of various gem kids with a soft pat on the head. If Dave was there to pick Dia up, Silver let him do so without question. When Billy was, however… Alright, so it only happened once, but an altercation nearly broke out. While it's been a few weeks ago now, it was still a regular thought that crossed Dave's mind.

Back to the present, almost any other time, Dave would've been more lenient about what Dia was permitted in doing. But, the uncertainty of how the gathering would go was nerve-wracking, to say the least. Just this once, Dia quietly staying here was the best thing for him.

He kind of felt bad keeping him somewhat out of the loop, and for being more strict for seemingly no reason. But, on the other hand, he didn't want to needlessly worry him.

Gracious, being a parental guardian was so complicated. How did others do it?

"And… Not you?" Surprisingly, that was the only part Dia was confused about.

"I might not be able to respond," Dave tried to play it off lightly, "Also, I don't know how long this'll take, so it could be a few hours."

"Huh, okay. Just don't get brainwashed or whatever." Dia sounded like he was trying to be funny, but there was a hint of truth in there.

"Nonsense," Dave shook his head, putting his hand on his shoulder. "I won't."

Dave was early when he got there, but so were many others. He still couldn't believe he was doing this. And along the way, Dia's joke/warning stuck with him. No sir, he would not fall into anything of the sort!

He was now just outside the gates - an actual fence, black and with barbs to dissuade a flightless trespasser. The whole property was very much unlike most living spaces a Dave would have - high-end, he would describe it. The house (no, the school) was rather large, moreso than he remembered his own being. It stood at least two stories tall, with the exterior resembling The Future Is Here. There was a front grounds, decorated with hedges and a fountain.

He was starting to see the inspiration. Like a similar, but also distinct flavor, that separated 1's tastes from Viktor's.

He paused, noticing a new notification. There was another message from Billy.

Well-Made_Account🧤 (@BILLYLĖ) [7:41 PM]
Are you sure? Not even as a precaution?

Dave understood Billy's protectiveness, he really did. It was very sweet of him to care this much, especially in a setting like this. A small part of him wanted to allow it, as deep down, he was nervous. Or heck, even just to make Billy feel safer.

But, no.

Dave_Oddity!🧰 (@DAVE_82) [7:42 PM]
Yes, I promise, I'll be fine!

A pause.

Well-Made_Account🧤 (@BILLYLĖ) [7:44 PM]
Very well. Stay safe.
'I love you.'

Lithuanian. At least in text, it was easier to say.

Dave_Oddity!🧰 (@DAVE_82) [7:44 PM]
'I love you too!'

He heard more of his counterparts approaching, but didn't pay attention until he was called. "Oh, hey 82! You decided to come after all!" It was #77, a House, accompanied by 88 and 99, Sky High Adventure and Dream respectively. Dave put down his phone, giving a polite wave.

"I still can't believe this is happening!" 88 was gushing, "1 wants to see all of us?! We'll probably literally never get a chance like this again!"

"A shame for any Dave beyond 134…" 99 sighed wistfully.

"You could always…" Dave struggled to respond, "Tell them about it?" All three stared at him, then cheered.

"That's right!"
"Oh, absolutely!"
"It's the least we can do!"

"Say, are you waiting for someone?" 77 then asked. Technically no, but… "You can join us if you like!"

"Oh, that's okay! Go on without me, I'll… I'll catch up!" Although he frowned, 77 didn't push, gesturing for the other two to follow him through the open gates.

"We'll see you inside!" He called, as they left.

"Poor guy. I don't think he has any Dave friends at all…" 99 mused, but of course Dave and practically every other in attendance could hear him.

"I know! Let's save him a seat!" 88 piped up.

"But I could see it in his eyes. He doesn't want to be around us…" Dang it. 99 caught his little white lie.

"I think that it's the thought that counts! Good idea, 88!" 77, meanwhile, was all for it.

Dave tried to neutralize his face, having suddenly noticed how it felt contorted… In what probably looked like agony.

He couldn't help it. He had to ask.

Dave_Oddity!🧰 (@DAVE_82) [7:47 PM]
Are you sure that I'm not this airheaded?
Because I just got reminded of why I tend to stick with your circles.

Well-Made_Account🧤 (@BILLYLĖ) [7:47 PM]
I'm positive as a plus sign.
(I think that's how you said it.)

Dave_Oddity!🧰 (@DAVE_82) [7:48 PM]
Okay. Alright. I'll trust you on that.
(Yes, you got it!)

Well-Made_Account🧤 (@BILLYLĖ) [7:48 PM]
You can always leave. It's okay.
I could even pick you up right now if you like.

Dave_Oddity!🧰 (@DAVE_82) [7:48 PM]
No, I can't. I've gotten too far to back out now.
Sorry. But I have to see this through.

Well-Made_Account🧤 (@BILLYLĖ) [7:49 PM]
If that's how it is…
Let me know if you need anything. I'm here.

Dave_Oddity!🧰 (@DAVE_82) [7:49 PM]
Of course!

"Hey, uh, excuse me," Yet another popped up. "Is this…" A pause, checking his invitation. "1's…" A glance at the property. "School…?" There was no doubt about it, this was 134; a Fun Algebra Class like himself.

"Yes, that's right!" 134 relaxed from the confirmation.

"Oh, thank you! Six days here, and already something big is happening. Is it always like this?" Dave shook his head. "Hm. Then I suppose I'm fortunate! Thanks again, Dave." With those parting words, 134 left to go inside. Huh. So new that he didn't even think about numbers.

Regardless, if Dave continued to stall, he might end up becoming some kind of greeter. That was enough to push him forward.

It immediately felt like a mistake, as the inside (which matched up with the exterior) was full of various counterparts, their voices melding into a noisy mess. A very select few were of higher pitch (Sky High Adventure), or lower (The Future Is Here). It was one thing hearing himself talk, but quite another with over one hundred of him.

He pulled out his phone again, starting to write out a message. "Billy, please come get me" And stopped. No! He swore on this! He backspaced it all. Instead, he shut the device off. If he really, really had to chicken out and bail, he'd have to be willing to boot it back up.

Continuing on through the oddly futuristic atrium, it was apparent that the layout of the whole place was very different from what he'd been used to. Sure, it'd been a long time, but even he noticed it right away.

Nearby were refreshments, manned by Silver, who had text beside his head reading "DO NOT MAKE A MESS"; he looked like he didn't want to be here. It was shameful to admit, but Dave was genuinely tempted to eat something.

However, sense kicked in again and he resisted without another thought. How insulting, using pizza against him so heinously. Did 1 think he was stupid? … Considering how he almost fell for it, yes, probably.

Silver saw him, and with sounds of metallic typing, the text changed. "I BET YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANYTHING" Correct, but all Dave could do was nod, before moving onward.

Finally, the auditorium. There were rows upon rows of plush chairs, and a fair amount of Daves present. Somehow, within moments, the trio from before spotted him, waving frantically to get his attention. By this point, ignoring them would be rude.

Just sit with them, deal with it, and get this over with, his inner voice sighed in resignation. How long could this possibly last, anyway? Some of them had Tristans, after all. So, he put on his mask and joined in. He tried to keep out of their conversation as much as he could allow.

"Oh, 82!" 77 brought up, "You can put your chair under the seat! Don't mind the disappearing, though. It'll pop right out when 1 is finished! At least, that's what I heard."

The last statement made Dave unsure. While he could say something like "I feel more secure when it's with me at all times", he realized that it was likely that everyone else had done it already. The peer pressure of cordial absent-mindedness was shockingly powerful.

Fine. Just this one thing.

"Alrighty!" He feigned joy, then added some kind of excuse, "Hope you don't mind, but I'm going to see how!"

"It's super neat! You won't be disappointed!" 88 replied, all three of them buying it. Good, it was just quirky enough. Watching, the floor beneath covered the item, as though it was sinking into a thick fluid. And soon, it was as though nothing was placed there at all, even as he tapped and pressed the surface.

"Disappointed" was far from an appropriate reaction. "Mind boggled" is more accurate.

It must've struck eight, for it went quiet suddenly. The silence was nigh deafening, and as the lights dimmed, Dave glanced around to find that every seat was filled.

He… Was certain they weren't, just seconds ago. Had he drowned out all the excess noise and not noticed?

Still, he faced the stage, as 1's Green Alien Monitor stood in the center. He was polygonal, and donned in the garb that MONOTOR-0 would've. It was so strange, but…

"Welcome, one and all," Yet, his monotone, comically robotic voice rang out with familiarity. "We hope you have felt at home here thus far. Without further ado, let's get started. Presenting: 1." He moved aside, and Dave clapped along with the others.

From the lights, the first Dave descended with poise, and to be quite honest, it felt surreal. Once he neared the floor, he gave a wave to the crowd, visored eyes scanning nonchalantly, as if fully taking stock of his guests. Luckily, or perhaps expectedly, he looked through Dave.

"Thank you, everyone," He began, "I am grateful for your attendance tonight. As you're aware, the occasion is not merely a social endeavor. More importantly, it is the beginning of something new. And with it, we'll all be able to live happier lives. But first, we must understand why."

Here we go. "The Webspace has been our home for years. Though, perhaps for a few of you, it hasn't been quite that long yet. Whether days or decades, your time here matters not. What you must know, is that there is a problem residing in it. And his name is-"

"Alex! Is it Alex?" One of the Daves interjected. A few others murmured agreement.

"Oooh! He's so scary! I don't like that guy!"
"I get it! We're going to defeat him, right?"
"But how?! I don't even know how to fight!"

The second-hand embarrassment was utterly dreadful. Then, with a single clap from 1, they all settled down.

"My fellow Daves, while he has done unspeakable things," He continued, "Alex is merely a byproduct of the real issue at hand. The man who keeps him under lock and key; the man who, recently, revived the dead." The last three words dripped with venom. "If need be, allow me to name our perpetrator: Viktor Strobovski! Our beloved leader!"

The others gasped. Including Dave himself, who then covered his mouth. Did… He mean to do that?

"That's right," 1 nodded in affirmation, "This Tarwill, as far back as the Alex Incident of 2021, had unanimously decided that, if it was possible, he would have those victims resurrected. But now, he succeeded. Despicable." Many in the crowd were already beside themselves. Dave personally felt… Conflicted.

"As for Alex?" But 1 didn't let up. "Viktor once put the safety of the populace in the hands of someone who clearly could not handle the task." Oh no. Why did he have to bring Billy into this? "So for a long time, he fought a battle that was not his, just so Strobovski didn't have to. The physical damages could always be mended, but mentally? Those are scars that will last."

Nevermind that Billy offered of his own free will. Nevermind that Viktor eventually saw reason and let him go. Nevermind that Billy had a stable network of friends and family to rely on for support, and is currently a lot happier than he'd been.

A part of Dave wanted to speak up, but he could not afford whatever consequences that may bring. His inner voice agreed: Billy would understand.

"Worst of all, Viktor has kept Alex here, even now," Still, 1 talked. It was starting to feel rehearsed. "He always has a chance to escape, so it's not a matter of 'if', but 'when'. And 'when' he does, you can imagine the tragedies that would befall us. But, I am pleased to tell you, that this does not have to happen!"

He paused, and from both sides, Silver and Alien stood next to 1, carrying boxes. They set all but one from their stacks onto the floor, and opened it. Around Dave were inquisitive, but hopeful stares.

"I am starting what I call: The THRIVE Initiative!" 1 announced as they did so, "My wish is to put an end to this madness, and bring us to a better, brighter future. However, I require your aid. But worry not over what you can or can't do; have faith in your abilities! I will be with you the whole way!" Silver and Alien reached inside, and displayed some kind of necklace, bearing a bronze, inverted triangle pendant. A third was passed onto 1.

"Take this symbol, and join into my might!" By now, he was practically yelling. "Together, we'll stop Viktor's reign of tyranny, forevermore! Divided we fall, but united we THRIVE!" It sounded like a load of

A cacophony of cheers and praise overtook the auditorium. Were… Were they… Really buying this? A few of the Daves in the front row even left their seats and fell to the ground. But they were undeterred, crawling over to the stage in desperation.

1 was smiling from the reception, as he and the other two characters donned the necklaces. When the eager Dave counterparts reached the edge, Silver and Alien bent down and handed over the desired accessory.

"No need to rush, my friends!" 1 let out a soft chuckle, "You will all get your own!" He motioned for his companions to go. "Pass them down! Don't forget a single one!"

The frenzy was unbearable. The trio around Dave were just as into it as the rest. Despite literally being surrounded by different selves, from various games attributed to his series, he felt completely foreign. As 1's cohorts did as they were told, he was reminded of his most compelling urge, which had gone dormant until this very moment.

Get out of here. Get out of here.

He stopped thinking, climbing over the back of his chair, clumsily stepping over other Daves, ignoring their words of protest. At the final row, he leapt for the exit, ramming it open in the process. The spill he took must've been quite unflattering, but all he did was force himself to his feet and go. It was far from easy, but eventually he built up enough rhythm to keep at a sprinting pace.

Dear God. For the first time in his technical life, he was running.

Except, for some reason, he didn't know where the front doors were anymore. At every turn, he crashed into the wall, using everything he had to not fall. The pain was almost overpowering, but he pressed on. He had to.

"Dave? Where are you going?" And then, he realized he was being followed. By 1.

He tried to focus, to remember where Gotta Sleep's closet is. It was his only hope to avoid detection. As it turned out, it was right where he thought it would be. He wasted no time and hid inside. Immediately after, he collapsed in a heap, panting heavily.

Struggling, he pushed himself upright, leaning against a wall. He selected his phone, immediately switching it on. He impatiently waited for it to finish starting up, mouthing silently, "Come on… Come on…! Please…!"

Done! He opened his DMs, selecting Viktor's first. He figured that if nothing else, then… His words were inputted at a breakneck speed.

Dave_Oddity!🧰 (@DAVE_82) [8:21 PM]
Viktor, beware his THRIVE Initiative! He wants to take you out of power!
And every single one's just falling in line! No one's questioning it!
I'll admit, earlier I wanted to retort, "Why don't you just ask some other Dave, then? We're a dime a dozen!"
But I get it now! I get why it had to be me!
The others… They wouldn't have been able to resist 1's temptations. And they aren't!
He didn't elaborate on his plans, but what I do understand is unequivocally horrifying!

"Dave?" He froze. 1 was getting close to his location. He held his breath, but put out one last message.

Dave_Oddity!🧰 (@DAVE_82) [8:23 PM]
Never ask me for anything ever again!

He heavily considered texting Billy next, but he honestly wasn't sure if he would be able to in time. Instead, he put his phone away, hoping that 1 wouldn't find him. He waited, and eventually, there was silence. He lifted himself up, opening the door and exiting the closet.

"What is troubling you?" The gentle question made Dave scream, tumbling back down to the floor. "Oh my. Apologies, Dave."

He fumbled around, desperately trying to flee. He still didn't know how he managed to get this far before, but it wasn't working now. All he could do was beg, like a wounded animal. "Please…! No, please! Don't…! I don't- I don't want to join you! Please let me go!"

1 didn't respond for a short while. "Your hesitation is curious. Tell me, what drives you to?"

Dave tried to steady his voice, shakily pulling himself up against the wall. "You can't do this! Sure you th-think Viktor isn't all that great, but this isn't the way! Y-You're just going to take them down a dangerous path! Think about their lives!" He quieted. "Doesn't that mean anything?"

"Hm. But that is exactly why I must," 1 answered, bringing his hands together. "What I am doing, is uniting us against a common enemy. Most weren't even aware of the true nature of their leader. I'm changing that, because if I don't, it will only continue."

"W-Well, I don't like how you're doing it." The lackluster statement fell right out of Dave's mouth, feeling his brows furrowing. 1 stared at him again.

"82," He started, not in absolution, but a new understanding. "Are you afraid you'll lose Billy if you join us? And Dia?"

Okay, while they were a part of it, that wasn't all. And by the way, how did he even know about them?! "No, I'm afraid I'll lose myself. Whether my mind, my being, or… Otherwise."

Trying to step away from 1 only unbalanced him, and yet he tried. Finally, 1 raised his arm, and from the ceiling materialized an object, colored the same as it. But by the time it was in his hold, it melted off like it was wet paint. Upon closer inspection, it was none other than Dave's folded up wheelchair.

The first thing to come to mind was bribery. Instead, 1 floated closer to Dave, handing it to him. Once over, he backed off again. "Very well. It is not selfish, to prefer your own preservation over a longterm cause. But, you realize…" He trailed off, and another item was selected - what looked like a gun. He pointed it right at Dave's head. "You now know too much."

Dave instantly unfolded his wheelchair and hid behind it. His tone was panicked, incredulous even, but rightfully so. "You're going to kill me?!"

A pause. Then, "No. Just erase your memories of the last half hour."

"... Oh," Dave replied, more calm as he looked over. "Wait! That's not any better!"

"Don't worry, it won't hurt a bit." He fired

Dave blacked out.

He stirred, finding himself in bed at home, lights out. He was disoriented and confused, as he tried to discern the time. It was… 11:02 PM.

The Dave Gathering. He missed it.

He fought the covers off of him, immediately going into a blind panic. How could he just sleep through the whole thing?! He had one job. One. Job! What was he going to say in order to explain this?!

He tabbed over to his phone, and was greeted by a DM notification. Oh God, Viktor was probably angry over Dave's lack of response. He took a deep breath, bracing himself for the worst. He almost couldn't look, as he opened Viktor's.

Viktor🎭 (@VSTROBOVSKI) [8:42 PM]
Thank you for the information. I'll take things from here. Consider your mission complete. I will not ask any more favors out of you.

… What? Dave scrolled up, finding messages from himself, detailing what he knew about what 1 was planning. It was frankly terrifying, and he could just hear the fear in his past self's words. Whatever caused this sort of frantic tone had to be justifiable, but… Dave couldn't recall any of it.

Wait. The notification didn't go away. Who was it actually from? Dave checked, and his eyes widened in horror.

1.

This time, he had to take a few moments to calm down, willing the courage to see what he had to say. Nothing good, Dave bet.

Dave🪛 (@THRIVE_INITIATIVE_1) [9:03 PM]
I now understand the full picture. Strobovski employed you as a spy. But, I can tell you wanted nothing to do with any of this. I'm sorry he used you. If it helps, you are not alone.
If you require any further information, feel free to respond. I'm more than happy to rendezvous.
PS: I will not ask you to join my initiative again. That decision is yours alone to make.
I pray you don't regret it.

… That nosy jerk read through his messages! Well, if nothing else, he'll leave Dave alone. At the same time, the offer to learn more was somehow enticing. Before he could ponder it, there was a knock on his door.

"Dave? Are you alright in there?" Billy was here? Since when?

"God, I hope he didn't turn him into some freaky puppet." Dia. Ah, he probably called him. But wait, that means… Right. Dave did go, and did end up at 1's house- no, school - but then, nothing else. Oh, lord.

"That would be… Unideal." Billy replied, in a manner that's trying to be stoic, but underneath was a subtle layer of worry. In the meantime, Dave noticed his wheelchair nearby, getting into it and opening the door. As promised, both Billy and Dia stood outside, light from the rest of the house flooding his vision.

"Yes, I'm fine!" Dave was telling them, trying to adjust to the new brightness. "Aside from, uh… Not remembering what happened."

Billy's expression turned into what bordered on disbelief. "I knew I should've performed a stake out. I would've been able to intercept him."

"... That," Dave frowned, sternly, "Is exactly why I asked you not to. I can take care of myself just fine, see?" He spread his limbs, hoping his point came across. True to his word, he was unharmed.

"Yeah well," Dia crossed his arms, less in irritation and more discomfort, "That creep knew where we lived. He even tried to talk to me." Though, it began to shift into that one tone he used when telling stories.

"But, but I was like, 'No way man! Get the fu- fudge out of our house! Or else!'" Dave caught the swear. "And he was like, 'Or else what, kiddo?' And I was like, 'I'll blind you! For real!' And then he flew away like a little bit- coward!" That made two.

Not until he's eighteen, Dave wanted to remind him. But later will have to do.

"That… Was not at all what you told me," Billy, however, was utterly confused. "You were crying, and scared, and-"

"Don't- Don't say that! You're gonna make me look so uncool!"

"Ah, alright," The well-made robot then nodded in understanding, "But in my opinion, it's not all it's cracked up to be."

"He knows where we live…" Finally, Dave repeated, and honestly that bit was rather concerning. If he had to go with his gut, 1 most likely had the locations of every Dave on-hand. Very creepy indeed. "Well, I can promise you this: I will do something about that. For now though, try to get some sleep, okay?"

The young gem grumbled, but complied, leaving for his room. "Fine. Goodnight."

When out of earshot, Billy couldn't help but mention, "None of that was according to his original recounting of events…"

"Oh, I figured," Dave chuckled, "It's actually kind of adorable. He did that with Kelly, too." The mention of her name, or even thinking about her, still brought a small amount of longing, but it wasn't like years ago. So, whilst wheeling over to the living room sofa, he changed the topic.

"Anyway, I mean it. I realize that tonight doesn't demonstrate it all that well, but… I'd rather you not try and save me. Plus, it'd only ruffle more feathers."

Billy followed, then sat next to him once Dave did so. "I'm sorry. The gathering made me uneasy. I was so sure you wouldn't go. Then, you said you were. What would 1 want to say or do, that he can't share with those not from his series?"

"... I was scared too," Dave had to agree, "And I didn't want to, you're right. But, well…" He paused, tabbing over to his phone, and sharing the conversations with Viktor. He didn't know how to finish his statement.

Moments later, he felt Billy pull him close, leaning him against his shoulder. "Permission to turn him into paste." That's… One way to react. Looking at him, Dave could see the way Billy's pupils formed those red, glowing dots.

"Permission… I forbid it," He replied, "I appreciate that you're so willing, but it's really not worth it. He's not worth it."

"Where do we draw the line? When would we be allowed to go… Apeshit?" Dave failed to stifle a laugh.

"Oh, so now instead of just you, it's both of us?"

"Perhaps." Dave could feel the grin forming on Billy's face. The very idea of including him on getting even with Strobovski… Turning it into some kind of shared activity! An experience of a lifetime, just the two of them! It was so…

Dave felt himself starting to glare, but he was still smiling.

It was so tempting. Alright. He'll indulge in a little mischief.

"The line is… If he blows up my house. Or yours." He said decisively. Surely, that would never happen, but just in case.

"Then, it's a date." The way Billy said that sounded so innocent. Like it was dinner out, or a movie, or a picnic at the park. Only, it was none of those things. Half-jokingly, Dave opened his calendar app, penciling in the following:

"Date Night!

Beating up Viktor for blowing up my (and/or Billy's) house!

Date/Time: TBA"

And saved it. He was giggling like a wicked little imp. Next to him, Billy was cracking up too.

"There, it's official," Dave tried to say through his amusement. When he calmed, he sighed, leaning into Billy more. He added, more softly, "Thank you for this. I know I just want us to be safe, to try being the better person. But, it does get tiring."

His inner voice was reminding him of what could come next, if they actually did go through with anything of the sort. And yes, he could list one hundred reasons not to. However…

"At some point, you realize," Dave finished, "Walking away just won't cut it anymore."

Chapter Text

"Hello there! Is your name Denied Cellar?" Was the first thing Dave #... 119 said when the merman in question reached him. The surface dweller had gone and trapped himself in the cage; which was designed with large predators in mind. Like sharks! Octopuses! Moray eels!

But no, he got a Dave instead. Somehow. Despite just about all of them avoiding the ocean like the plague. Even 82 (only being mentioned as such for distinction!) kept his visits to a minimum.

And yet! Here was one of them now! At least this guy had decided to don a wetsuit. It'll be a funny story later, he tried to tell himself.

"Oh, yeah, just 'Denied'," He responded, trying to hide his present irritation, "Didn't you, uh, read the sign?" To be specific, the one with luminescent paint reading, "IF YOU'RE NOT A FISH, STAY AWAY! I WILL BE VERY PISSED!!! -Denied"

"Yes, I did! However," 119 went on to explain, "I was having trouble finding your house! So I thought, 'Eventually he'll come here!'" And it actually worked.

"... Huh. Okay, so what's this all about?" Denied asked, as he unlocked the trap. 119 pulled out what appeared to be a metal rod of some kind, planting it in the sand and pulling himself forward. Son of a bitch, so that's how he got here.

While also using it to keep balance, his visitor then gave an envelope. "I have been sent on a mission of recruitment, at 1's request! We, of the THRIVE Initiative, are now expanding our reach for membership!"

The… "The Thrive what-now?" The question was automatic. Everything about this was weird and sketchy. Already.

"The THRIVE Initiative!" 119 repeated, without missing a beat, "1 founded it not too long ago!" After a few moments, he added, "Say, would you know where I can find…" A pause, thumbing through his remaining letters. "Captain Gonzalo?"

Him too? Not Uncle Gonzalo… Still, 119's higher-ups would probably be miffed if he failed his task, so Denied just muttered in Lithuanian, "'Fuck my whole life.'" and humored him. "This way."

To be fair, Uncle's submarine was almost always on the move, exploring every pixel of ocean that the Webspace had to offer. The results so far was that it was larger than any of them initially thought. Regardless, knowing where they'd set course to ahead of time allowed the merman to find them with relative ease.

All it took for them to pause was waving, from outside the sonar room's massive windowpane.

Like with his own home, the hatch was able to drain water. But since it was built with one occupant in mind, it was a tight fit.

"If you don't mind me asking, you can just switch whenever you want?" 119 observed. Right. The legs to tail thing.

"Basically, yeah." Denied shrugged, but 119 was amazed by the notion.

"'Denied! So good to see you, son!'" Once at the hatch landing, the merman was greeted by Bob the Great II, or just Bob for short, in their native tongue. The older man had approached and wrapped him in a warm hug. With ease, Denied returned it.

"'Hey, Dad,'" He replied, as a few others arrived, "'You too.'" When they pulled away, he was put into a much tighter hold by… Yup, that was definitely Uncle Gonzalo.

He was giving a hearty laugh. "'We've missed you, my boy!'" Denied kept it together as he was released, only then realizing that he'd been lifted off the floor.

In all the commotion, they managed to overhear 119 deploy his wheelchair, seeing him get into it.

"... And," The captain commented, now in English, but unlike Denied and Billy, his accent was noticeable. "You've brought a guest aboard."

"Appears to be Dave #119, Captain." At last, Shy Worker noted aloud, in much the same manner.

"'Such a shame, that. I was hoping for ours,'" Uncle spoke it under his breath, and frankly, yeah, Denied agreed. Then again, he was much too smart to end up in his trap. Still, the captain cleared his throat and approached the guest first. "Of course! 119! Nice to meet you!"

And delivered a handshake firm enough to crack bones, if possible. Denied could readily tell that 119 struggled to keep composure, yet managed. "Pleased to make your acquaintance as well! I'm here with a message for you!"

Like earlier, he gave the same spiel that the merman heard. The captain looked over the envelope, then inquired, "And what exactly is this THRIVE Initiative about?"

"I'm glad you asked! Its goal is to make our home better for everyone!"

"And how is 1 intending on accomplishing that?" This question made 119 lose face, for a good moment. He was stumbling to answer.

Finally, he went with, "I'm not at liberty to say at this time. However, 1 would be more than happy to discuss any and all concerns with you!"

"Ah, I see, I see," Uncle slipped the letter in his shirt pocket, "Is there any other business you have with us?"

"Hm… Nope! That should be all!" 119 confirmed, lightly. As if sensing the undertone, he selected his rod again, using it to pull himself upright. "I do have more to send out, so I best be on my way! Thank you for your time!" Putting away the wheelchair, he went back towards the way he and Denied came in.

Watching, the captain glanced at Shy Worker, back to Lithuanian. "'Throw him out the airlock.'"

"'We… Don't have one.'" Dad interjected. Bemused, the other turned to him instead.

"'... Water lock?'"

"'We don't have that, either.'"

"'Then- Dammit, what do we have?!'"

"'The torpedo launchers…'" Shy Worker replied, though with uncertainty. Denied couldn't believe what he was hearing. There's no way. Then, Uncle gave the crewmate a wicked grin.

"'Do it.'"

In response, he gave him a salute. "'Yes, Captain!'" To their guest, he added, "Excuse me, 119. We have an exit. Please follow me."

"Oh! Sure thing! Lead the way!" He bought it hook, line, and sinker. When the two were gone, Denied leered at the captain.

"'You can't be serious!'" His anger was obvious. However, Uncle turned away, making his way back to the sonar room.

"'I am. Come watch, you two!'" He had no remorse at all. Both followed.

"'What's wrong with you?! He's a person!'"

"'I could see it in your eyes, in your expression,'" The captain tsked, "'You would've wanted to do the same thing.'" Maybe, but Denied wouldn't have actually gone through with it! Those concepts were completely different!

As the three of them reached the windowpane, they then witnessed a Dave-shaped blur speeding through the open water, and not without a yell of shock.

A rather dark part of Denied found it funny. But he refrained from smiling, even while Gonzalo howled in laughter with the clap of his hands.

"'Uncle, what the fuck?'"

"'Relax! He'll be fine. And if not, well, then 1 clearly made him disposable.'" This caused Denied to bare his teeth in rage, growling. Yet, a simple hand on his shoulder from Dad prevented anything worse.

"'Didn't you see his pendant? Didn't you notice the signs?'" The merman faced his father, growing concerned. Now that he thought about it, yeah, 119 was wearing one - an inverted triangle made of bronze. And sure, the speeches were strange, but…

"'What about it?'"

"'He was trying to convert us, Denied. To what ends that 1 desires, we don't know yet.'"

"'Even sending them out beyond the surface…'" Gonzalo added, tone more serious. "'Far-reaching, indeed. Unfortunately for him, we don't care much for zealots.'"

"'Still, I'm grateful that you did bring 119 here. We now have a better understanding on what to avoid. Perhaps it'd be best to stay out here for the time being.'"

"'That,'" The captain smirked, "'And if we were to face any real danger, our weapons still work!'"

From the way the two explained it, it suddenly made so much more sense. The way they went about "removing" 119 was still wrong, however, and Denied wasn't going to stand for it.

"'Fine, but screw you for doing that! I'm gonna take him back.'" Without waiting for an answer, Denied left the room.

"'Remember; no matter what he tries to tell you, don't get caught in the Initiative!'" Dad warned, as the merman departed.

"'I won't!'"

Finding 119 wasn't a challenge by any merit. When he got near, Denied spoke up. "Hey, uh, sorry about them; that was outta line. They're not usually so… Weird." Not quite a lie, but despite what literally just happened, he still didn't want them to look bad.

"Oh! No worries! They're quite the interesting bunch, ha ha!" Forgiven so easily. "If it's not too much trouble, could you point me in the direction of the beach?"

"It'd be best if I took you there. This far out, it'd be dangerous going alone." Try as he might, he just couldn't imagine 119 being able to use the rod as an effective melee weapon.

"If you say so!"

It wasn't until they reached the boardwalk, when the surface dweller re-settled into his wheelchair. "Thank you so much for everything! I know I've asked a lot out of you, so I promise that this'll be the last one! You know Billy, right? Where does he live?"

Shit. No. Not Billy. Fuck that noise. With that in mind, Denied bluffed. "Oh, he… He wouldn't be so receptive, that's for sure. But I know someone who might be! Viktor!" As an added bonus, the more info Strobovski had on this, the better.

But 119 frowned. "Ah… I wish I could, but I was told not to send him one, specifically. I don't know why. As for Billy, hm… Still, I'm supposed to come back empty-handed, so I'll just leave it in his mailbox-"

"No!" Denied blurted, then corrected himself, "I mean, there's no need for that! How about I give it to him, then? I'm his bro; he'd listen to me!" He held up the act for what felt like a long time.

After more thought, 119 beamed again, forking over the envelope in question. "Aw, that's so kind! What a sweet brother you are! Here; make sure it's delivered!"

"No problem! I'm gonna go do that. Bye!" The merman turned tail and fled. Once he was sure he was alone, he paused to pant, collecting his thoughts.

Can't give one to Viktor. If the aim truly was to make this place better, logically it should've involved him, at least to help bring about changes. But apparently, he's not supposed to under any circumstances - and that messenger either genuinely doesn't know the reason, or cannot tell the truth.

That was the biggest red flag.

The pendant. Denied began to wonder how many Daves were wearing one. How many were a part of this THRIVE thing. What they were really doing.

If… If Dave was in on it, too. Fuck. No. No no no. Denied had to get to the bottom of it, and fast.

He was not like Billy; he couldn't fly. He was at his best in the water, but here on land, all he had was his legs. By the time he got to Dave's place, they were burning. All the exertion from today was making him dehydrated, as well. He hated that he was counting on Dave's hospitality to bail him out of trouble.

He knocked on the front door, sounding out of breath again as he called, "Dave? You home? I just wanna ask you somethin'!" No answer. "I'm coming in, okay? Talk to me!" He couldn't help it; he needed water badly.

He did as he mentioned, wasting no time in veering to the kitchen. Once he finished chugging a glass (and come to think of it, that's probably what Aldurra dealt with…), he almost lost balance when he was hit with a book.

"Ack!" He vocalized in pain, turning toward the thrower. A young gem stood at the doorway, more literature in hand. Wait, no. Those were whole-ass textbooks. No wonder that hurt.

"W-Were you raised in a fucking barn?!" The kid stuttered, raising his arm to toss another one. "When no one a-answers, you LEAVE!"

It began to click in Denied's mind. Oh shit. He hasn't met him yet. "Hold on. You're… Aren't you Dia?" In response, he froze. The answer was yes, he didn't need to say it.

"N-No!" But he refuted. "I'm…! Uh…! Prism Man! See?!" He moved to a ray of sunlight, and sure enough, rainbows reflected onto the walls. And white light. It distracted the merman long enough to have a second textbook hit his face. "N-Now get out, you creep! Or else!"

"Ow, damn!" Denied flinched from the impact, and he was surprised how he hadn't dropped his glass yet. Setting it on the counter, he tried to reason with the young gem. Honestly, he'd be defensive too if the roles were swapped. "Okay, look, I get it! But don't worry, I know Dave! My name's Denied! I don't mean to scare ya or anything!"

"Bullshit!" A third was being prepped. "Don't- Don't lie to me! Like Hell I'd fall for that!" Ah, he needed evidence. That's fair. In actuality, no stranger should just be believed without it.

So, from his wallet, Denied produced a photo, one that had him, Dave, and Billy in it. It was from when Dave was introduced to their family, out in the submarine. What a wild day that was. Anyway, he let Dia see it. "Here, I'll prove it to you."

He paused, studying the image. Still, he was skeptical. "... And how do I know that's not photoshopped?"

God DAMN. Denied wasn't sure who to thank for this stellar teaching of safety. This shit was on another level! Though, he had to suspend being impressed for the moment. He tabbed to his phone, bringing up the messaging app. At a conversation with Billy, dated about… A month ago?! Time flies.

Well-Made_Account🧤 (@BILLYLĖ) [4:16 PM]
Denied, great news! You won't believe it.
In fact, Dave is still semi-convinced that he's dreaming.

MediterraneanWaves🦈 (@DENIEDCELLAR) [4:16 PM]
oh shit man, spill the beans!!

Well-Made_Account🧤 (@BILLYLĖ) [4:17 PM]
One of his characters arrived today. His Diamond Man, who goes by "Dia".
We're at Viktor's right now, and Dave's gone inside to pick him up.
Neither of us thought it'd ever happen, but it has.

MediterraneanWaves🦈 (@DENIEDCELLAR) [4:17 PM]
oh my fucking god!! im so happy for them
just him? or anyone else?

Well-Made_Account🧤 (@BILLYLĖ) [4:17 PM]
Not that we're aware of.
But even then, it's better than nothing, I think.
I haven't seen Dave so excited in a long time.

MediterraneanWaves🦈 (@DENIEDCELLAR) [4:18 PM]
aw! i can imagine
cant wait to meet dia, tbh! i bet hes got lots of internet stories

Well-Made_Account🧤 (@BILLYLĖ) [4:18 PM]
I have been told that he was quite shy, so I doubt it'll be anytime soon.
I only can due to circumstance.
But I know that you'll be able to at some point.

MediterraneanWaves🦈 (@DENIEDCELLAR) [4:19 PM]
ahhh, rip
actually, that reminds me of somebody else, haha

Well-Made_Account🧤 (@BILLYLĖ) [4:19 PM]
Shut up.

MediterraneanWaves🦈 (@DENIEDCELLAR) [4:19 PM]
LMFAO

Back to the present, this string of DMs should, hopefully, be enough. He handed the phone over. "Maybe this'll clear things up?" He waited, while Dia read it.

"F-Fine. So you really do know him," He conceded after, but kept his guard up. "But he's. He's not home. And you scared the shit o-out of me. What do you want?"

"In that case, I guess I could ask ya about this," Relieved, Denied took the device back when it was offered, "I just wanna know… If you think he's been different lately."

"Different…?" Dia echoed, in thought. "More paranoid, but I-I am too. Started right after that… That Gathering." What 'gathering'? Did it correlate to what 119 was alluding to before?

"Has he… Been wearing anything new? Such as a necklace?" The merman tried to be vague.

"Nah. I've seen o-other Daves with one, but not mine." Denied wanted to call it right then and there, but there was always another possibility…

"Do you know where he is right now? I'd still like to talk to him."

"The hardware store. I think he mentioned s-something about changing up the h-house, but I didn't catch all of it. I was eavesdropping." The hardware store, eh? Change up the house, eh? Paranoid, eh? How very

Actually nevermind. That was normal.

"Mm-hmm," Instead, Denied nodded to himself. "Got it! Well, I'm off! Sorry for the terror! Oh, and before I forget: You're a great shot!" He went for the door.

"... Thanks? Weirdo."

"Ha, you ain't seen nothing." He fibbed, with a smirking wink. It left the poor kid utterly confused.

God, did that drink help. Getting to his next destination was a lot easier. By "the hardware store", he knew where that meant. That was never really his thing, which set him apart from his dad, his bro, and his bro's BF. Wild!

Oh shit. Speaking of, there he was! Along the way, he'd passed by more of those THRIVE freaks, so needless to say, seeing Dave was a huge relief.

"Heeey!" The merman called with an excited wave, to the chagrin of basically everyone else there. No matter. Dave heard, looking over at him with a smile, answering when he drew near.

"Oh, hey Denied! Funny seeing you here. How've you been?" Just as Dia mentioned, he was without that awful-looking pendant. Maybe there was still hope.

"Well, lemme tell you," Denied started, "I just had the craziest day, but I can get into that in a sec. Say, have you, uh, noticed anything kinda off lately?" At the question, Dave frowned, selecting his phone.

"Just one moment." He replied, in a hushed voice. He seemed to be sending a message to someone. A prior conversation, possibly?

Then the merman got a notification. Dave then added, "Please check it."

So, he did.

Dave_Oddity!🧰 (@DAVE_82) [3:52 PM]
If this is about THRIVE, not here. Let's wait until we're somewhere private.

Well, he had to hand it to him, he just saved a bunch of potentially awkward nudges in the direction of this topic. Glancing back at him, Denied nodded, replying.

MediterraneanWaves🦈 (@DENIEDCELLAR) [3:52 PM]
got it
are the supplies related to it too or

Instead of responding, Dave only nodded back, though it was more solemn. If the two didn't want to look like a pair of suspicious idiots (saying a lot, all things considered), they'd have to fake some other topic for the time being. And luckily, shooting the shit was one of Denied's talents.

"Aight, so get this," He started, basing it off of something else, but reasonably strange, "There's a rumor going around that a Baldi's been spotted. Some folks have posted sightings and pictures and stuff, but honestly? I think it's some big hoax. Ya know, people wanting him to be here so bad. Even then, everyone's got this consistent material - like, wow. The dedication!"

"A Baldi…?" Dave echoed, as he continued his shopping, checking off various items on his list as he went, "Oh, right! I think I saw something like that. In my opinion, if all the stories are the same, they could be telling the truth! Boy…" He trailed off, sighing in daydream. "I'd sure love to meet one. But I don't know how I'd be able to hold composure!"

The merman chuckled. "Aw, dude, same here! I'd want an autograph, but I probably wouldn't be able to get the words out. Sure, I could steal a Non Emotional Creature, but being without any at all miiight be freakier… Fanboy behavior, or soulless? Can't win either way."

"Plus, that's not good for you, I hear."

"Yeah, true… Wait, oh man! I should totally show Dia some of 'em! He might be able to tell if they're fake!"

"Hm? Once you've been introduced, you mean?" Shit. Shit shit SHIT

"Uh," Denied felt like he got caught in a net. One of his own making. How could he break this to him? "About that…" He relayed the incident, but it sounded a whole lot worse without the full context. He could see the glare appearing on Dave's face, hands on his hips. "Don't- Don't be mad at him! He was only defending himself! I would too!"

"That's not… You-…" Dave was groaning. "I wasn't home, and you just- Did you use your skeleton key?!" The merman had to pause for that one. Of course he wouldn't! Except, under the circumstances… But he didn't recall needing to.

"No way!" He shook his head. "It was unlocked, I swear." The reply caused a wave of silent panic to course through Dave. After a moment, he double facepalmed.

"Then, it's a good thing that I'm doing this," He grumbled, sounding like a disappointed parent. He ushered for the merman to follow. "C'mon…"

"Sorry…" Was all he could manage.

"In all honesty, it's partially my fault too. Maybe you had a good reason, but I wish you hadn't done that. Things are bad enough as it is." He wasn't going to be forgiven so easily. But it made sense, and was still better than earlier - it hadn't felt earned.

He proceeded to send a string of messages in response.

MediterraneanWaves🦈 (@DENIEDCELLAR) [4:16 PM]
its so relieving that you hold others accountable
119 was shot out of a goddamn torpedo launcher and he didnt care AT ALL
i swear to god ill tell you everything when i can. its not so youll change your mind or nothin, no
literally, shits wild
and i think we gotta stick together on this

Surprisingly, Dave paused to read them. He was flabbergasted, then settled back down to annoyance, but now it was more toned down.

Dave_Oddity!🧰 (@DAVE_82) [4:17 PM]
I know, we really should.
But, just because I'm angry at you, doesn't mean I won't hear you out.
So please, don't worry about that.

Wordlessly, Denied nodded. Out loud, Dave added, "Anyway, this is everything. Let's check out and go."

The way back was quiet. Only when they had reached Dave's house, did he break the long-standing silence. "Since you're already here, I'm going to ask Billy to come over. That way, we can all get up to speed on everything." Phone out, he began to send out the message, as he wheeled inside. The merman hesitated on following, worry creeping into him. He did not want to screw up again.

"Sure. Okay." Dave heard how far off he was, turning.

"Come in. It's fine." He did, shutting the door behind him. Then, he saw something in the hallway, to the right of the living room. Patterned reflections of color, and one of the corners of Dia's head, though covered with his hoodie. Overall, it was less prominent compared to when he put himself into direct sunlight, but still quite visible.

Even so, Denied pretended to not notice.

Chapter Text

An amusement park, bathed in the warm, orange glow of sunset. Hand in hand, did Dave and Billy wander. Much needed was this, due to recent stress factors. A day of fun, devoid of worry.

"Oh, you know what?" Glancing at his partner, Dave suggested, "We should go and stargaze!" Pretty to look at, despite not being real.

"And, perhaps, touch the skybox?" Added Billy.

"Absolutely!" It was tradition. The first time was easy to remember. Nervous was Dave, but he trusted Billy to not drop him from so high up. The ceiling almost felt like plastic. The Webspace was but a big box, and this only sealed that fact.

Back to the present. Billy nodded next to him. "Looking forward to it."

The two began to leave. Dave leaned his head on Billy's. It was funny, that he was a shy bit taller. Usually, he had to look up at him, because of his wheelchair.

Huh? What sense did that make?

Nearby, a door appeared. As if it were from his school, it was brown, but adorned with a shiny, diamond knob. Stopping, Dave stared upon it. "Say, what is that?"

"That," Responded Billy, knowingly, "Is Dia's door. He's dreaming, too."

Dreaming? Too?

"Wait, how could that be?" Pondered Dave, growing confused. "Those don't appear in the Webspace; that's absurd! It's only when I'm-" His words stopped in that instant, overcome in a realization. "Nuts. I'm asleep, aren't I?"

"That's correct," Though, Billy needed not answer. Yet, immediately after, Dave lost balance, the other steadying him. It was all adding up. Of course. This wasn't even the real Billy, either, but a manifestation from his own mind. "Also correct."

With a sigh, Dave asked, "Well… Now what? I'd much rather continue this if it were in the real world."

"Or if I too could dream with you?" At the question, Dave shook his head.

"Tempting, but no. That's not up to me. Besides, things would get too… Complicated." Just the idea was daunting. Hard pass.

"Understandable," The fabricated Billy glanced at the door again, then back to Dave. "You could go check on him."

All it took for Dave to get his wheelchair was thinking about it. He settled in, considering the option presented. "I… Wouldn't want to snoop…"

"We both know you're not intending to. You're making sure he's okay. Isn't that how it is?" Pretty hard to argue against your own brain. Everything he said was true. "Then, go for it. Just remember: Once you leave, you're limited to only what you are actually capable of."

Yes yes, Dave knew. Though… It'd been quite a long time since he last dreamhopped. He was rusty, but he started to wheel over to the door. "Right, then, I'm off."

The Billy made no reply, as he took hold of the shiny knob, opening the door.

Track meet day. Sunny, cloudless sky. Nervously confident, Dia and the other students did their stretches. Surely, he'd wipe the floor with them, but it was a challenge to not be anxious.

Here to cheer him on, was everyone! Those from his original game, even Spike, who Dia hoped wouldn't ruin this for him. Side by side, were Billy and Dave. His newer friends, Ruby and Gold, who were carrying signs he couldn't read. With them all sat Kelly, bearing a gentle smile on her face, her willowy frame fitting in easily with the rest.

She had managed to pull away from nursing school just long enough to be here. It was so hard to believe. Then, another person arrived.

"Hi! I'm not late, am I?" Oh gosh! Baldi! Leaving his position, Dia ran to him, arms open. The two hugged.

"Professor!" Replied Dia, suddenly feeling quite a bit better. "You made it! No, you're just in time!"

"That's great!" The professor was relieved. Pulling away, he added, "Hm… Do you think we have time for something?"

"Like what?"

"A rematch, of course!" Baldi's arm swept around the track. "One lap. Whoever finishes first, wins! What do you say?" Man, did that sound fun. Forget the actual competition, defeating Baldi not once, but twice, was the real deal!

"You're on!" Invigorated, the young gem turned back to the starting line, the professor following.

"Alright! But I'm not going to go easy on you like last time!" Oh. He's just asking for it! "On the count of three…" He spoke the numbers, and the race began. At a full sprint, Dia went, quickly reaching and clearing the turn. Looking behind him, the professor was nowhere near.

"Huh?" He vocalized, then shrugged it off. However, upon a second check, Baldi was gaining on him, and fast. Not from another lane, but directly behind.

And he looked different. Legs were blurs of red, an arm contorted into a long blade. His expression was

Evil.

Closer, and the young gem realized his eyes. The pupils were thin slits of black.

"You'll have to do better than that!" The voice that came from his mouth was all wrong.

Still, Dia ran, until he ended up somewhere else. A city street, in the pouring rain. Nothing in his inventory but a purple umbrella. He veered into what looked like an alley, but ended up right back where he was.

And soon, despite all his willpower, his speed was almost none. Close by, he could hear the steps of his pursuer, slow, casual. In no time at all, was Dia turned around and lifted by the front of his hoodie.

A short yell uttered, he shook in terror. "Al… Aldurra? W-Why are you here?! What do you w-want from me?!"

His captor, with his big, wicked grin, let out a laugh. "Oh, I'm someone far, far worse than that disgrace. But hey, don't worry! I'm not gonna kill you or anything. No no no." His blade waggled like an overgrown finger. "I'm just trying to draw him out."

Him? Who? Then, Dia heard it - the telltale sound of motorized whirring from Dave's wheelchair. It was of its high pitch, meaning that he was speeding towards the two of them. While difficult, Dia broke his gaze to see.

Just as he thought. His former teacher was charging, large wrench in hand, and he was undeniably furious. "If you know what's good for you, you'll release him this instant! GENTLY."

In response, Dia's assailant just turned impish. "And that's my cue. Thanks for the help, kid." He, however, did as was asked, and the young gem tried once again to escape. He could only crawl, but he managed to reach the sidewalk, under a building's overhang, out of the rain. From there, he watched on.

Dave slowed to a stop, face to face with the interloper. The latter giggled. "Hey there, Dave! I don't believe we've formally met! I'm-"

"Shut it, Alex," Dave cut him off, frankly not in the mood. "Everyone knows who you are. Anyway, you've gone too far this time. Even so, if you leave now, I won't have to hurt you." Never in all this time did Alex deserve that chance, but he couldn't help himself.

Alex's eyes squinted, clearly upset about the interruption. "Not seeing the prediction for what it is, huh? Are you even the real Dave, or a figment of Diamond Man's imagination?" Prediction? Dave… Didn't know what he was going on about. Was it because he was in a Baldi form right now?

In fact, why did a Baldi appear in the first place? Was that based on the pictures Denied showed Dia? But it was as if the two knew each other… Nevermind. Later would have to do.

"Yes, I'm 'the real Dave'! Now get out!" Alex didn't. He was shaking his head in disappointment, not believing him.

"But nobody came." He murmured. The demon went for him. That does it. Dave tightened his hold on the wrench, doing the same with a battle cry.

When they clashed, Dave was immediately disarmed, but it somehow threw Alex off. With the weapon being too far behind him to reach for, he promptly roved in reverse, picking it up. But clearly, he was going to need more tools on-hand. While still moving, he swapped to his toolbox, dumping various pieces of equipment into his main inventory.

A hammer, box of nails, screwdriver, loose planks of wood & metal, and his welder's mask, which he equipped. As much as he would've liked including his power tools, they weren't cordless, and unless Dia suddenly became lucid and interfered, that would not change.

To survive, he had to get crafty.

The monster was advancing upon him. From his metaphorical bag of tricks came the box of nails, throwing the contents out onto the road. A double edged sword, but so long as his body didn't touch them, he would be fine. As promised, Alex had to swerve to avoid the sharp objects, but not without a pained yell.

Now back to the wrench, Dave went forward again, keeping away from his freshly-laid trap, weapon raised to strike. But unlike before, he didn't swing when Alex did, instead dodging. Once he had an opening, he put all his efforts to hit the side of the demon's torso, sending him right into the bed of nails.

Staying on his trail, Dave pulled his legs into a tight cross-legged pose, entering. Bracing himself with the back of his wheelchair, he messily ran him over, using his free arm to shield his body the best he could. And again, this time backwards, but it was strangely empty.

Then he was grabbed right off his seat, by said arm. Alex was laughing, with a sneer. "Okay. I see how it is! Twinkle boy's version of you likes to play dirty! Well guess what, I can do that too! Watch this!"

Faster than Dave could blink, Alex swapped his grip onto one of his legs, causing him to flip upside down. Even while disoriented, he tried to focus, but never fully did. A fearful, then utterly painful scream escaped his mouth as Alex swung him into the nail-covered pavement. It was here he realized that it'd been an absolutely terrible idea.

He struggled to move, but the stabbing pain enveloped him all over, except his protected face. However, Alex forced him upright. "Aw, c'mon! Don't die yet! You'll miss the best part!" Walking around the parts of the trap, the demon approached Dave's wheelchair, as though he was never wounded. Without thinking, Dave tried to throw more items at him, first the hammer, then the screwdriver, and finally the wood and metal. Anything to stop him.

But everything missed, or didn't go far enough. Possibly from the intense agony ruining his aim.

Helplessly, Dave could only watch as his opponent stopped in front of what he'd just tried to protect. He was lifting his leg. Oh God, wait, don't

Alex smashed it to pieces with his foot. He unleashed another bout of laughter, this time triumphant. "You stupid motherfucker! As if a mere Dave could beat me! No matter how many little toys you use!" He snorted at the thought. "Kinda wish I could eat you, but it wouldn't count. What a damn shame."

Dave should've been filled with despair, but something from within prevented him from falling apart. Hissing from every ounce of pain, he bore it as he made himself crawl out of the nail bed, using the wrench to sweep stray ones away. "Your words… Can't hurt me."

"Still projecting that boldness…" The demon walked back to him. Once more, Dave was pulled off the ground, this time by the neck. Alex's tone became disgusted. "What a pathetic specimen." As Dave's hands instinctively tried to free himself, he winced as he felt the dull side of Alex's cold blade slip between his mask and face, easily prying it off. It clattered to the ground.

"Even if this was the true you, your fate was sealed the second you came here," He continued, then in a low growl, added, "Death." He didn't wait for a reply, or even for Dave to process the statement. Instead, he launched him as high into the air as possible.

Dave wanted to release a yell, but nothing would come out. He did his best to gather his bearings, and was able to, even in this situation. That something from moments ago was holding him together. Looking down - and dear lord was he high above ground - Alex had jumped to catch up to him, scythe reeled back. If that hit him, it was over. He didn't know if dying in a dream meant the same as back in reality, but he could not afford to risk it.

He needed to be there for Dia. So he can help him FLOURISH.

So, with both hands, Dave wielded his wrench, like a baseball player at bat. A sudden orange glow appeared in his peripheral, but he had to focus. As that cursed beast got close, he mustered everything he had into his one shot.

"STAY. OUT. OF OUR DREAMS!" Dave bellowed, the last word echoing. His strike was so powerful, that Alex was cast off into the skybox, faster than the speed of sound. A hole of void appeared as he crashed through it.

At last, the area was safe.

But then, he remembered that he was in the air, rationality kicking back in as he fell toward and hit the ground, his panicked cry finally being released. Luckily, it wasn't in the nail bed trap. Even so, the impact hurt, and he groaned out a, "Ow…"

He heard Dia approach, immediately trying to right himself again, wrench returning to his toolbox as well as his other items. "Y-You… You okay?"

"Yes, I'm alright," Dave assured as well as he could. "What about you, Dia? Are you okay?" He inspected him, not finding any visible signs of cracking or breaks. The young gem nodded.

"Did… Did you say, 'dreams'? Am I dreaming?" He turned skyward, shielding his face with his arm. "... That'd. Explain a lot. If this were actually happening, the- the others wouldn't be here. Especially not… Her." He wiped at his eyes with his already wet sleeve, and Dave was sure he was trying to cover up his tears. Around them, the rain stopped at last, but Dave had grown so used to it that it was somewhat surprising.

Anyway, he tenderly took hold of Dia's shoulders, fighting through the pain. "I'm sorry, but yes. We're both asleep." The other didn't reply, only emitting a whimper. Dave brought him into an embrace, not caring how it'd potentially exasperate his wounds. As if on instinct, Dia sat on his knees, clinging to him.

Oddly enough, neither hurt.

"I! I hate this! Why was she there?! I don't care about her! I don't! Hell- Heck, I don't even wanna see her face again! Not anymore!" He listened to his former student vent and sob, neverminding the verbal slip-up. This was his dream, after all.

"But you knew her," Dave carefully explained, "And some part of you remembered that. That's just how it works - reflections of your experiences, curated into a disjointed, bizarre mess of people and places." He paused, letting it sink in for Dia. "Maybe you don't miss her, maybe you do. It's okay to feel like that."

"... Do you?" The question made him take a deep breath.

"All the time. Ever since I left. It's not so consuming now, but it still lingers." Silence.

"Then… I guess I do, too. I was just-! Just so mad!"

"I know. I think we all were, in our own ways."

"You don't just fu- fricking disappear like that! You don't…!" A sniffle. "She was like a big sister to me, and she…! Did she even care?!" Gracious. Dave began to remember the event that ultimately led him to where he currently was. So far, he had told Billy, Sam, and Denied. Now, however, he'll share it with Dia.

"Of course she did. Two weeks after you all left, I got to see her one last time. She truly, deeply regretted not doing anything to prepare us for her absence. She was the one who told me to go. To 'find something better'."

"I'm… I'm still mad. But I miss her, at the same time. It doesn't make a-any sense."

"It sounds like it wouldn't, but it does. You can be angry at someone, but want to see them. You can be upset, but still care about them. Both feelings are valid and normal." After a short while, the two pulled away, and by this point, the pain had absolved.

"So I'm. I'm not crazy?" The young gem still looked and felt like a mess, but he was at least more calm. Dave gave him a patient smile, shaking his head.

"Not at all." As if noticing something, Dia hid the nervousness in his next question, by wiping off his face again.

"If this is my dream, then, uh… How do I… Do stuff?"

"Just think about what you want," Immediately following Dave's answer, a wheelchair appeared next to them, out of thin air. The kid caught on real quick. "Oh! Thank you, Dia!"

"Y-Yeah, no problem. I mean, Alex trashed the other one…" He trailed off, then added, "How many of him are there?" Oh, boy. This wasn't going to be fun to explain.

"Two," Dave said, as he finished settling in, and as his former student got up, "There's Aldurra, who you met on your first day of school, and he's not usually so… Hostile, where we're concerned. His primary focus is normally on Alex - the one that was just here. He has beef with that guy." Later is now. Time to inquire. "Though, I can't help but wonder… Why Alex looked like a Baldi, let alone… Dia, may I ask about that?"

The young gem suddenly looked away, a guilty expression on his face. Uh oh. Trying to assure him, Dave added, "You're not in trouble or anything, I'm just curious! But if you don't feel comfortable talking about it, that's fine!"

Instead, Dia gave a response, but his voice was low. "I-I wanted to tell you from the beginning, but I thought you'd n-never believe me. When I came to the Webspace, I… Was with a Baldi."

Dia woke up. The first thing he saw was his room's ceiling. What… The fuck was all that just now? He lay there, expecting most of the experience to fade away from memory, but this one didn't.

It was getting hard to tell how much he'd been in control of. He did begin to feel more like himself when his former teacher mentioned that the two were dreaming. But to open up as much as he did, to reveal something so secretive… Too mushy to be real. It had to be.

Dia flopped over to his side and shut his eyes, dismissing it. Just a disjointed, bizarre mess of people and places. … Like the Dave from it said.

It couldn't have meant anything.

There was a soft knock on his door, halting his drifting off. Man, really? It was three in the Goddamn morning, can't it wait?!

"Dia? Are you awake?" Dave was asking, voice barely audible. Without a word, Dia buried himself in the covers. But the other must've noticed, because he added, "May I come in?" Curse his Baldi-like hearing.

Baldi…

He never left, did he? Where was he now? What could Dia do to help, if he managed to see him again? Maybe show him the exit, if he can't find the person calling for him - Dia knew the Webspace well enough now. He could be useful…

"Please? It's about… The dream," Oh shit fuck. Wait. What?! Before Dia could panic, Dave began to change his mind. "Ah, no, I get it. Perhaps later would be best? I'm sorry, I didn't realize the time. I'll let you get back to sleep, okay? Goodnight, Dia-"

Throwing the covers off, Dia blurted loudly, "YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT ALL THAT SHIT WAS REAL?!" Silence filled the air.

"... Language." Fucking Goddamnit. But it didn't stop the young gem, who haphazardly left his bed, tripping over what was left of the sheets in the process.

"THE ALEX? THE FIGHTING? THE- Ow, fuck!" This time, the swear was reduced to a quiet hiss.

"Language," Dave repeated, more firmly this time. Nothing got past him. Then, he softened again. "Are you okay in there?"

Quickly, Dia checked for cracks, and there were none. "I-I'm fine! But wait, that means… That means I… Uh…" He struggled to say anything more.

"Yes, that's… Actually what I want to talk about. But if you'd rather wait, I completely understand."

Regardless of that option, Dia still felt cornered. The only excuse he could pull was, "I was lying."

"... Dia, you don't have to hide things from me," But Dave saw right through it. "I know we were separated for quite a while, but we're here now, and I want to be there for you. Like I should've from the beginning. I'm sorry I took so long to see that." He paused. "You can tell me anything. It's alright."

The words were just as comforting as in the dream. Frankly, Dave's original eagerness of taking him in began to make more sense. Despite the decision to go with him, Dia had remained cautious, wary, whenever he had the sense to. Just to be on the safe side. And so far, he'd found him to be unusually lax about many things.

Playing hooky a lot was the main exception, but that much was reasonable. Even so, the reactions weren't at all like he'd been used to in the past. Instead of only getting frustrated, his former teacher wanted to understand why.

And of course, there was the aforementioned swearing issue, but that too, like now, was met with a reminder to quit it. Not until he's eighteen, he was told. He briefly recalled his plans for that day: Shout "FUCK" as loud as he possibly can, and Dave can't do shit about it. He tried to not laugh. It would be very weird, in his current situation.

But ultimately, Dia had to face the facts - Dave really has changed. Maybe losing everyone was his wake-up call. And maybe… Dia could allow a mushy, gushy feelings jam. Just this once. Probably.

"Dia?" Dave called once more. The young gem was ready to answer.

"You can come in."

Chapter Text

It didn't matter where he went, or where he searched. Whenever he was close to giving up, it would remind him. Whenever he opted to find his own way home, it called to him. Again, and again, and again - in an endless loop of stopping and starting.

He wasn't sure how long it'd been going on like this. Hours? No, he saw the Webspace turn to night, several times. He, unfortunately, never really kept count. The best he knew was days. Many days.

Those around him appeared more ambivalent, at least in comparison to the beginning. Or, something was preventing him from noticing. Memories were blurring together, into an incoherent mess. When did he go here? There? He couldn't tell.

He was simply lost. In what direction the exit was, he failed to surmise. He vaguely recalled trying to ask for help, a few times as a matter of fact, but the answers were gone.

Perhaps, he thought, if he found a high enough vantage point, he would start making some progress.

Baldi! Won't you come meet me?

And still, he heard the voice. It was of a high octave, gentle and sweet, soft and inviting. Persistent, all-encompassing, composed, despite it all. Most noticeable, however, was how compelling it was.

It grated on his nerves.

Finally, he blurted aloud, "I don't KNOW where you are!" Could it even hear him?

It quieted. The next few moments was a much-needed reprieve. He wished it didn't have to end.

Oh my! I'm so sorry! How rude of me. Allow me to show you the way.

He almost questioned how, but instead he turned, heading to a new destination. The journey itself was reduced to mere footnotes, as the goal was what mattered more.

A street, a few, Viktor's school. Right, the voice was at its loudest here. But if it wasn't Viktor (in fact, how could it? The two sounded nothing alike), then who?

Eventually, he was at a door, with a notice upon it. A secret waypoint to a hidden bunker below the building. No wonder he couldn't find the person. Though, the warning on said notice gave him some semblance of focus again.

"All authorized personnel must wear a helmet!" It read. Close by was a row of coat hangers, except they carried the supposedly required equipment. Maybe he should

You won't need it, trust me! You're Baldi; you can handle anything!

"You're sure about this…?"

Of course! I would never lie to you!

He was convinced in an instant. He opened the door, and stepped inside. The very building itself flashed with different locations, each more eerie than the next. But it didn't take long before he arrived.

The plain, white, curved walls closed in on him as he moved forward.

Almost there! Just turn where I say.

He was led to what looked a lot like a jail cell, and inside it was a man. Slightly taller than himself, brown hair and shoes, a magenta and white zigzag striped shirt, and lighter brown trousers.

"Baldi! There you are!" He called, his voice a perfect match, and just as serene. "It's so good to finally see you in the flesh! You must've come from such a long way… I know you've been concerned about getting back home, but don't worry; I know how!" He paused, humming in thought.

"First, however, I'd like to shake your hand," He continued, "Unfortunately, we can't really do that through the bars. Electric, you see. Down the hallway is a breaker. Just switch off the lever labeled '1', and set it to 'unlocked'! Simple as that!" As if guided by him, the professor followed every instruction, without a second thought.

Once he returned, the cell's door slid open, by its occupant. "Very good! Now then…" He cleared his throat, stepping forward, hand outstretched as promised. When his and Baldi's connected, he noticed that the grip was… Firm. A bit too firm.

"My name is Alex," He introduced himself, only for his words to lower in pitch and distort. "And your form belongs to me." His mouth opened, in an unnatural way - as if it split his face into quadrants. Sharp teeth glimmered in the artificial light as Baldi was pulled in close. At mere centimeters from his head, Alex suddenly stopped.

"Wait. What? Is this some kind of fucking JOKE?!" He was roaring, releasing his hand but then choking him, held above the floor. "I SPENT ALL THIS TIME CALLING ONE HERE, AND THIS IS WHAT I GET?! SOME MODDED TUTOR BALDI?! WHAT A GODDAMN WASTE!"

The professor was thrown into the cell, hitting the back wall and collapsing to the cold floor. Alex's body began to change, legs and one arm turning dark red, insectoid in structure, and it made him even taller. The altered arm's hand became an iron scythe, sharp and dangerous. A second pair of eyes revealed themselves near the larger ones. He tore his shirt open, revealing

Something from deep inside Baldi's subconscious forced him to avert his gaze. It was too much.

With a growl, Alex commanded, "Stay there and rot. I don't need you."

The professor did not move. Alex sped off somewhere.

The fog cleared, and Baldi began to cough uncontrollably. Pain flared up in his hand, neck, and back. He struggled to an upright position, desperately trying to regain himself. When did he get here? What had he been doing? Where was the exit?

But, at least, for the first time in who knows how long, no one else was speaking in his mind. It was only him now. Whoever it was might've gotten tired of trying. He wouldn't say so aloud, but he didn't miss it.

Attempting to look into things, he noticed the time. 7:34 PM. He could see the date, as well - goodness, it's been over a month since he was last able to check, from back home.

Home… Surely, without him, his game would've long ago gotten unstable, if not crashed. Perhaps everyone found a workaround. They're all so clever, of course they would've figured something out!

Then, he remembered Dia, and his words about going places. Maybe if he managed to leave this… Webspace, and was able to show just how badly he wanted to return to Player's PC, one of those buses will take him right to it, somehow.

God, he hoped that's how it worked.

How was Dia, anyway? Even if Dave wasn't treating him kindly, what could Baldi do, if he couldn't save himself? Was it any of his business?

These thoughts, amongst many others, played out as he searched for an exit, pace unsteady from the wounds. Luckily, it didn't last for very long. It took a few minutes of wandering, but he found a portal. With no other choice, he stepped through it.

He vaguely recalled this area, as the second floor of Viktor's… It was a school, wasn't it? As it did before, an unpleasant aura enveloped this place, but he did his best to ignore it. He was happy to take the smallest bit of familiarity, and use it to get himself out of here

Or he would've, if the sights and sounds weren't so chock-full of panic and screams. Instead, he covered his supposed ears, trying to adjust to the sudden volume change. The other area had been silent, but now…

From the floors above, people were in a frenzy. Below, orders were being shouted. And on this one, unmistakable violence. Cackling.

From the voice who had spoken to him in the beginning of all this.

Wait. Oh no. Baldi remembered.

He caused this.

And if the others found him, the consequences would surely be dire. He could try to explain his side of the story, but it was more than plausible that they'd turn on him for releasing a monster.

"Catch me if you can, fuckers!" Alex shouted, shattering a glass window afterward. It was easy to assume he just escaped the building.

"The target made a break for it. Surround him! Show no mercy!" A chorus of the same, feminine voice. Laura, right?

"Where's Marzia? Alice and Tiara? Erie?" Even… Viktor, sounded rustled by the events unfolding. "What bad timing…"

"Sir, there's always… Plan B." A person Baldi didn't recognize suggested. Whilst listening to the conversation, he started looking for an exit, trying to not get too close to their locations.

"No, I fired him! I'd have Hell to pay if I did that!"

"Plan C?"

"Out of the question. We just brought them back; we cannot, under any circumstances, allow them to seek him out!"

"Plan… BB?" This time, Viktor groaned.

"Now you're just making shit up. Not the time for this."

"Mr. Strobovski! Mrs.' Erie and Freudenmacher are at their home! It seems to be Alex's projected destination!" Another person reported. Then, there was a pause.

"That son of a bitch," Viktor spoke in realization, "He's going after us one by one. Please tell me Scrina isn't out there too."

"Correct! She is at Candice's schoolhouse!"

"Thank fuck." For the moment, he seemed relieved.

The professor found the stairwell. Not much further to go, he figured. However, two people were descending from above, so he darted out of sight. Both were women, the first having a pink dress and long, blonde hair, and the other had a gray suit, no arms, and a face that he just couldn't bear looking at.

Apparently, a few fangames had gone with the traditional horror angle.

"Viktor!" The latter called, in greeting. Baldi took the opportunity to get out of hiding.

"Ah, Marzia, good to see you. I think we have time to intercept him, he's gone to-"

Angell🪷 (@VLANGELLICA)
Yes, we know. Go ahead and do so.
In the meantime, I'll handle our visitor.
Or should I say… Suspect.

This was said by the former, in a way that felt a bit familiar to the professor. Like the subtitling in Plus, but not really. A quick glance revealed it to be a chat system.

"'Our suspect'?" Viktor echoed, "Oh, you believe you know how Alex escaped?" They were catching on. He had to hurry. Baldi was turning for the rest of the flight to the ground floor, but found himself surrounded by an assortment of characters. They weren't happy in the least bit.

He was frozen in his tracks.

Angell🪷 (@VLANGELLICA)
That I do.
Professor Baldimore.

Snapping out of it, he made a mad dash from the way he came. All the while, Viktor was in disbelief. "Impossible. Angell, there's no way he would do something like that. How could've he known where he was? Let alone how to free him? Hell, very few of us do!"

Angell🪷 (@VLANGELLICA)
I saw him go into the bunker.

"Oh my God," A long sigh, as if Viktor's hand was covering his mouth. The characters gave chase, but the professor was able to outpace them. "Where is he now? There's got to be an explanation for this."

From afar, Baldi heard the shot of a pistol. Then, a searing burst of pain in his ankle. He couldn't stop himself from emitting a yell, collapsing to the floor.

Angell🪷 (@VLANGELLICA)
Right there.

"What the f- Don't fucking kill him!"

Angell🪷 (@VLANGELLICA)
It was just his leg, don't worry.
Couldn't you hear him trying to leave?

Baldi was heaving, holding onto his wound. He dared to try and stand, but failed miserably. He attempted pooling his resources to dull the immense agony, but it wasn't working. His PROTECT mode was trying to override him, but even that struggled and fizzled out. Had to be due to the bullet, but he wasn't able to focus on looking into it.

The least he was certain of, was that this gun had to have been designed for foes far stronger than he.

The characters were nearly upon him. He was done for. All he could do was brace himself. Then

"Back off! All of you! Jesus Christ, this isn't like years ago! You know better!" Viktor intercepted, keeping them at bay with… A woodcutter's axe. Once over, he faced him. "Are you alright, Professor? I'm so sorry. We're normally a lot more sensible."

Angell🪷 (@VLANGELLICA)
I can't believe this. You're sympathizing with him?
That is a criminal you're talking to.

More people appeared, including… Marzia, and Angell, the latter giving a disgusted face as she held the weapon that injured him. Baldi couldn't decide if that was uncalled for, or if he should be impressed by her sheer accuracy. He had been at a full sprint, and yet…

Considering the situation, he decided on the second notion, but didn't mention it. In fact, he couldn't respond at all. Unable to withstand the shock and pain any longer, he fell over again and

Sleep.

In no time at all, Alex had massacred every Laura who tried to get in his way. Even in her Evil form, none stood a chance. Still, a few made for a decent meal, and unlike the Ms. Immortals of the past, this was much more substantial - as far as physical phantoms went.

Hum. He had more than enough to use her as a new disguise. It wasn't what he had in mind, but it would certainly help. He shifted, and carried on his way to where he was heading. The stupidly tall polymorph would be the most likely to ruin things, since the nosy bitch looked over more than just the necessary memories he had.

Well. He hoped she enjoyed the slasher material.

At the house, he strolled up to the front door and knocked. Not only was Erie here, but so was Alice. Good, a three-in-one. In fact, it was the history teacher who answered. "Hello, Laura! What brings you here?"

"This is an emergency," Alex mimicked Laura's voice and mannerisms, pretending to be on edge, "Alex has escaped. Please come outside immediately, he's almost here." Alice bought it, terror in her expression.

"We'll be right out." She acknowledged, going back to call for the librarian. In the meantime, Alex left the lawn to wait for them.

"Where's Viktor and Marzia? Why'd he only send Laura?" Erie was more suspicious of the ruse, but still joined her partner.

"Another important arrangement, I'm afraid." He fibbed further, leading the two away from the residence.

The librarian "hmm"ed in thought. "And what the fuck is more important than this?"

"No time to explain. Anyway, he should be nearby." Moments after, he was grabbed off the ground, meeting the squinting gaze of Erie.

"Sure is awfully quiet for an Alex attack, huh Laura?" Shit. He couldn't fool her. "Alice, Tiara. Let's slice him up." She promptly threw him out toward the open field, away from other folks. He rolled into a landing, true face and limbs appearing- except, of course, his missing arm.

An eye for an eye, Viktor. His number was coming real soon.

Swiftly, the two dames caught up with him, both battle-ready. But not for long. Even with only one scythe, he evaded and countered. Alice's pairs of claws missed him by a hair, while Erie's massive strength was wasted on their surroundings. At least, until the librarian barrelled into him with her wheel, sending him against a tree. But she didn't stop there, spinning it into his torso.

Goddamn, these fuckers sure liked rolling, didn't they?

In one go, and this disguise was almost in shreds. Fuck! But oh well, he had plenty more. Blocking out the pain of burning rubber, Alex reached out his scythe, slicing the attachment in half. Noticing, Erie pushed herself back, landing on legs that replaced what remained of it. Throwing the part aside, the demon considered his next appearance.

Hum… Yes, someone familiar. With that, he shifted a second time, into an Angellica he nabbed off of some Human's copy of Viktor's game. It was only a shame he missed the look on their face when the program came crashing down beyond repair.

"You… You twisted…!" Alice made the wrong call of letting it get to her. Alex went for her first. But somehow, she was blocking with her claws. Meanwhile, Erie was catching up to them.

The history teacher spoke again, but the tone and voice was very different. "Don't be so surprised, Alice. Of course he'd do this. He's trying to make us falter. What a cheap party trick." Curled to a fist, Alex was socked in the face, pushing him back. "How many other models do you have in there, huh? You're quite the collector, aren't you?"

"Tiara, focus!" Erie called, while Alex got his bearings and evaded. "Believe me, I want to give him a piece of my mind too!"

"I don't know if I can do this…" Alice murmured, then the attitude changed again.

"Then I will." Damn. It had only worked by a third, and even then, that wasn't a net positive. Of the two entities within Alice, Tiara was the bigger threat. Then with Erie not reactive at all, things weren't going in Alex's favor.

He needed to get rid of the nosy bitch first.

"Tough crowd." He cackled, returning to his standard-issue Alex form. Out of many. While the two opponents were distracted by it, Alex swung his blade and Erie fell to the ground, vertically sliced down the center. She finally stopped moving after that.

"ERIE! NO!" It was Alice who cried out in horror, and Alex turned to her, relishing in it.

"Oh, don't worry. You'll be joining her soon." He had a wide-set grin on his face, brows furrowed and eyes squinting.

"That does it," Tiara, on the other hand, was unruffled. "We need to regroup. Both of you get out of here. I'll buy us some time."

"Wait- No- Are you crazy?!" Then, a Tarwill's mask obscured Alice's face.

"No." Tiara answered simply, before her entire body leaped out with the mask, like a pile of semi-fluid, semi-solid matter. Alice fell back from the excursion, but now appeared completely ordinary. The mass wiggled around as the female Tarwill's body revealed itself, along with all four of her arms, as per her rare mutation.

But already, her mask bore markings and patterns. With a yell, she added, "Go!"

Without waiting for an answer, Tiara leapt into the air, stretching her arms out. In reflex, Alex went to slice at them, but one went to his head, throwing him down into the grass, hard. The foliage was disgusting. By the time he managed to rise again, the other two were gone. Probably by doing that one thing from a while back.

No matter. If Viktor's bitch wanted to die that badly, Alex would be more than happy to deliver.

She had landed, cracking her knuckles. All of them. The demon booked it, swinging his blade, but Tiara was unusually good at dodging. Unusually showy with her extra appendages.

Never before had he seen a Tiara who acted as such.

In response, one of them cracked like a whip, swiping at him. He managed to cut it off in time, but another was already reaching for him. Her icy cold claws sank deep into his shoulder, threatening to detach his only remaining scythe. He unleashed a growl, and all he could do was bite down, not letting go even after she relented with a hiss. No matter how unappetizing her Tarwill flesh was, he held on.

"A biter, are you? I wonder…" She then smirked, the arm growing in size. Too much, and…

He released, dropping back down to the ground. Even so, his mouth hurt. It wasn't wise to try that again.

"That's what I fucking thought," Tiara gave him an impish grin. "You know, I've heard so much about you, and sure, I was a part of those fights a looong time ago, but guess what?" Coming for him again, all three appendages grappled him. With the grace of a spinning top, he was whirled around, until she finally threw him into the air. He tried quickly to not get disoriented.

And yet, here she was again. "Against someone at your own power level? You're a joke. So you have to pick on those weaker than you. You have to siphon code and strength from them. Isn't that sad?" Two hands were put together to bludgeon him to the earth. He raised his arms to block, but the hit was unaffected. A small crater was made as a result.

She… Was actually beating him. All by herself. What fucking witchcraft was this?!

He huffed as he got up and leapt out. She sprinted for him again, her three remaining appendages ready to do him in. This time, he managed to hold them at bay.

"All for what? Because you think we're the ones who've gone soft?!" One of them managed to punch him again. "Wrong, bitch. It's called, 'character development'. Maybe you should learn about it!"

Dislodging their arms, he had an opening at last. As quick as he could, he sliced her in two. She fell in a heap, but unlike Erie's situation, the attack was horizontal, which left her conscious. Through it all, she still moved, sputtered, glared up at him.

Instead of trying to fight him more, she merely gabbed on. It was surprising how she was able to do so. "Nice try, dipshit. But even if you did kill me, you wouldn't be able to have me. If the mask goes, so does the AI. And I know you can't eat Tarwills. Your time's running out, Alex." A manic laugh escaped, through her coughs and gags. In her hand, appeared that device.

With another, she flipped him off, before disappearing.

Even in victory, she literally had the last laugh. Alex roared, in fury.

"A school trip? This weekend? That's… Tomorrow!" Dave read over the permission slip repeatedly, hoping to find any info that would prove him wrong. But no, it was exactly as stated. "'A month, maximum'? Look, Dia, I'm sure Miss Baldina has good intentions, but this feels a bit… Sudden, don't you think?"

"I guess," The young gem shrugged, but no doubt caught on. "I'm not s-sure if I should go, actually. The Internet and me? Don't exactly go like bread and butter." Then, he pulled an envelope from his inventory, handing it to Dave. "Oh, a-almost forgot. This one's just for you. Pre-tty weeeird!" The last part was stressed with a singsong tone.

It was untampered and sealed, meaning that Dia didn't try to give it a peek anyway. Not that he would've minded his curiosity. "Huh… Indeed." Dave opened it up, as the other turned away for his room.

"Welp, I'm gonna take that as a 'then you're staying here'," He tried to sound like Dave, "Anyway, I need a nap. The rain's been killing me!" Although it would've seemed like he took this strangely well, knowing what they do… No, it was perfectly in-line to how the young gem would've reacted.

What was more concerning was the sleeping. Every time, Dave was cautious about Alex returning to haunt either of their dreams. And while Dave had no need to, Dia was too young to stop. That was one of the few caveats of being a child character who's able to age to adulthood. One could argue that it'd be possible to avoid that, but none of them ever knew quite how.

Luckily, Dia didn't report any further encounters with the demon. But still, Dave remained on-guard, ready to wake him the second he hears anything distressing.

"No problem! Sleep well!" So, he acknowledged, then began to parse the enclosed letter.

Dear DAVE #82,

It has come to our attention that Alex has escaped from imprisonment over 48 hours ago, at the time of this notice's writing. In preparation of such an event, we have decided to undergo what we call, Operation Yellowstone. As explained in the permission slip, your child will be away from The Webspace for one (1) month, maximum. It is our hope that, after the allotted time, Alex will have been apprehended.

If you have any comments or concerns, please send all inquiries to my handle's DMs.

Best regards,
Headmistress Baldina
@MISSBALDINA

Like before, he reread, over and over, hoping, begging, that this wasn't what he was being led to believe. Now, he most likely could've known about this in advance, but neither he nor Billy were much for looking over social media. At least, not often, anyway. Truth be told, he mostly played along when Denied mentioned the Baldi thing, as the situation called for it.

But this… Couldn't be ignored.

Retrieving his phone, he did just that, and at the very top of the feed, with a red and bold "URGENT", there it was.

Curfew recommendations, safety advice, latest sightings.

He was about to wonder why the merman didn't give a heads-up sooner, then realized when this was all publicized.

Ten. Minutes. Ago.

This changes everything. Baldina must've had greater intel on the situation, and Dave would be a buffoon to make Dia stay home. Even if his former student was reluctant, the least Dave could do was assure and encourage him. And who knows, this might be good for him. As always, his inner voice had ideas of what to say at the ready.

Oh, Dave's sure you'll be okay out there! When will you have a chance like this again? And what about your friends, aren't they going?

All of them sounded good.

As Dave continued contemplating, the belated-but-not-really "heads-up" came in.

MediterraneanWaves🦈 (@DENIEDCELLAR) [3:29 PM]
ok this is not a drill, and i dont mean to scare ya guys
but alex broke out. some fuckin how
ill be fine, im sure he knows hes just askin for trouble if he tries any ocean commotion
but you know just. be careful??

Dave didn't hesitate to respond.

Dave_Oddity!🧰 (@DAVE_82) [3:29 PM]
I heard. Dia's school has decided on a trip in order to keep the students safe.
I'm… Heavily considering having him go.

Then, a third person - Billy?! - added something. How? … Oh. It seems like this is a group kind of thing. In attendance was the three of them.

Well-Made_Account🧤 (@BILLYLĖ) [3:30 PM]
That sounds impossible, but… It's real.
Thank you for letting me know. I will remain vigilant during this time of crisis.
Dave, if I may suggest: If the trip allows chaperones, go with him. We will be alright.

Now that he mentioned it… Yes, that is a viable option. Logically speaking, Billy has way too many of his selves to be threatened, and even if he did get hurt, Dave would help him through it when he could.

Or… Dave could stay. Prevent anything from happening. And Dia would still be safe, albeit without him. Which felt… Saddening, even in the knowledge that he wouldn't be alone.

Now the dilemma wasn't whether Dia should go or not, but rather, if Dave ought to join him. A chance to keep out of danger and bond, or rely on Baldina, her staff, and Dia's friends through this and focus on… This was so hard.

The conversation went on.

MediterraneanWaves🦈 (@DENIEDCELLAR) [3:30 PM]
oh thats even better!
and i mean, worst case, i got room in the dome for some stragglers!
uncles sub too. hed understand
shit, viktor, why dont we make some safehouses in the ocean? the place is vast as hell!
omg gr8 idea denied!!

Well-Made_Account🧤 (@BILLYLĖ) [3:30 PM]
Quick! Someone give this man a medal!

MediterraneanWaves🦈 (@DENIEDCELLAR) [3:30 PM]
right???

Well-Made_Account🧤 (@BILLYLĖ) [3:31 PM]
In all seriousness, I do think that's a good idea, too.
It's either that, or try to hide, or risk it outside the domain.
Some may not care for the sea, but it's better than the alternatives.

MediterraneanWaves🦈 (@DENIEDCELLAR) [3:31 PM]
yeah!! and im sure thisll all blow over soon anyway
strobe bow ski and co are usually really on top of it
wouldnt it be kinda funny if they caught him tomorrow and baldina was like
"oh wow! ok kids, were goin home on monday!!"

Well-Made_Account🧤 (@BILLYLĖ) [3:32 PM]
It would, but I have doubts.
Why do something like this, if that's the expected outcome?

Here, Dave began replying again.

Dave_Oddity!🧰 (@DAVE_82) [3:32 PM]
Because it's already been two days.
And every student and faculty member could be gone for as long as an entire month.

MediterraneanWaves🦈 (@DENIEDCELLAR) [3:32 PM]
oh my fuckin god!!
tf do you MEAN hes been on the loose for TWO DAYS??
are ya pullin my tail???

Dave_Oddity!🧰 (@DAVE_82) [3:32 PM]
It was in her letter! I'm not making this up!

MediterraneanWaves🦈 (@DENIEDCELLAR) [3:32 PM]
no no i believe YOU. i just dont believe THEM. how does this even HAPPEN??
in that case holy shit, absolutely get the hell outta here for a while

Dave_Oddity!🧰 (@DAVE_82) [3:33 PM]
I would, but I feel like that wouldn't be fair to you two.

MediterraneanWaves🦈 (@DENIEDCELLAR) [3:33 PM]
look i can see that, but i swear its fine
like when you come back, we can share stories! about how alex got his ass kicked, and how much fun you and dia had!
good times all around!

Dave_Oddity!🧰 (@DAVE_82) [3:33 PM]
That does sound nice, but… No. I need to stay here.
I think I'm tired of running.

MediterraneanWaves🦈 (@DENIEDCELLAR) [3:34 PM]
… uh…

Denied quieted after that. To be fair, that was a rather divisive choice of words. But it was a phrase he was fine with using. Though…

Dave_Oddity!🧰 (@DAVE_82) [3:35 PM]
It's okay. You can say it.
Anyway, I'm sure you mean well, but don't forget that I too was an antagonist.
I'm stronger than I look, you know? And I'm so… So sick of him.
Sick of what he's done, of what he might do, and of every "next time" that there is.
I'm frankly reaching my limit here! If he were to show up right now, I'd…!

Dave paused, trying to calm down. He overheard a knock on his front door. "Dave? Are you home?" Billy. So that's why he stopped contributing. Though, Dave was sure he'd been reading along.

With more effort to compose himself, Dave said, "Yes, I'm here. Come in if you want." His partner did, approaching with a solemn face. He thought about what to say, most likely reflecting on Dave's DMed statements.

At last, he asked, tentatively, "Is this because of the dream?"

Oh God. He's right. "It was the final straw."

"Would you say he… Crossed the line?" Gone too far. At his limit. The final straw. Crossed the line. It was all the same. The pieces fell into place, and Dave uncorked.

"Yes he crossed the line! I'm so TIRED, consarnit! I. I want to go… BANANAS!" He panted, in an attempt to extinguish his rage. Then realized that he just yelled at Billy. He hid his face in shame. "Oh. Oh gosh. I'm sorry. I… I didn't mean to…"

Surprisingly, Billy knelt down and held him. Even for how tender it was, it still managed to help squeeze out his remaining anger. Dave returned the embrace, feeling tears peeking through his eyes.

"No need to worry," The well-made robot told him, still calmly, "I'll elaborate. If staying is what you want, I feel like you shouldn't have to face him alone. I know 'the line' was about Viktor, but in the case of Alex… Would it be possible to make an exception?"

"If he tries any tomfoolery with either of us, you mean?" Dave found himself asking, and he felt Billy nod.

"That's the idea."

"And to be absolutely, one hundred percent crystal clear…"

"We are not rescuing the other. We are working together." Dave found it in him to smile, hugging Billy closer, with a small laugh.

"'I love you. I really, really love you. So much.'" His Lithuanian was a lot better as of late, despite his natural accent still being present. But Billy minded not.

"'And I love you too, from the bottom of my heart.'" Okay, a bit mushy, but things already kind of were. The two pulled away, sharing a kiss. Then, Billy realized something, going back to English as he noted, "It seems that we've left Denied high and dry."

"Ah! You're right!" At the same time, Dave noticed some colorful reflections appear. Gracious, he woke up Dia.

The two faced the bleary-eyed young gem. "Are you guys, like… Okay?"

"Go ahead and tell him. I'll take care of Denied." Billy assured lightly, rising. With a nod, Dave did.

Chapter Text

"It's not too late," Denied said slowly, voice low. "You can still go with him. I promise, we can handle it."

"Denied, let it go." Next to him, Billy refuted with a slight firmness in his tone. Out of the three of them, Dave only shook his head, with a knowing, but bittersweet smile.

"My mind is made up."

They, as well as a ton of others, were waving off Baldina's students and faculty alike, from the Webspace's entrance tunnel. Mere seconds ago, Dia's group had been called away. And despite it all, the merman kept getting the feeling that Dave was only doing this out of necessity for… Something.

It wasn't like Denied was trying to push him away, really. Just, if there was a chance that one more person could be safe at a time like this…

But as he just said, his mind was made up.

It's already been three days since then. In that time, apparently Dave #1 had a similar idea as he, except a lot more exclusionary - opening up his school so that other THRIVE members (and their affiliated characters not on Baldina's trip) had shelter from Alex's wrath.

Obviously, the one that the merman knew did not participate.

Billy had offered his home (namely, his underground lab), and surprisingly, Dave declined that too. Oh, actually, not all that much, as Denied remembered that he was to undergo some kind of house-changing project. Which Billy again offered to help.

Still, he refused. "It's something I must do alone.", he had said. And in spite of the lack of detail, Billy didn't ask for specifics. Very weird of Dave, but Denied wasn't about to call that out.

For now, he lay on his bed, staring at the transparent ceiling, the ocean all around him. So far, efforts to take in folks from the surface was a bust. To each their own; he wouldn't force anyone to go.

And whenever he checked the news, it was the same. How in the world hadn't Viktor caught this asshole yet? It was irritating. A large part of Denied thought, well, maybe he should just do it himself! Lure the demon into the water and POW!

Alas, it was a stupid idea. But, he wanted answers.

Calamity was what he found, once inside Viktor's headquarters. Strobovski himself had just returned, carrying a mortally injured Marzia, while fighting past his own various wounds. What seemed strange was the lack of the other three.

From afar, the merman watched him pass her onto a Laura, as well as a Tarwill's mask. "To the infirmary. He cracked Tiara this time, so do be careful. And please, find someone, anyone, who can fix up Erie. At this point, I don't care who."

So that's it, then. Denied suddenly felt extremely shitty.

"And you, sir?" Laura asked. Her answer came in the form of an action; Viktor's model changed to his true form.

"I'll just have to retire it for a while. Now go. I won't tell you again." Laura nodded, then turned away and left. Under his breath, Viktor was cursing. "Fuck. Every time. Every damn time. He just keeps getting more powerful…"

Honestly, the merman should just leave. He began to, until

"Denied? What brings you here?" He was spotted. Briefly, he froze, then faced the Tarwill again.

"Oh, hey…!" He tried to play it cool. "It's dumb, really. I, uh, was just wanting to find out what the holdup was. I'm sorry about… Well, your friends."

"Hm, I see," Viktor replied, "Thanks for the concern. But now that they're all in one place, we may get our chance once they've recovered." He didn't sound assured of that, try as he might. "How is everything on your end?"

"Er… Fine," Denied said, then tried to change the focus. "Except… 1's kinda gone ham on the whole, 'join my initiative' thing. He's been sendin' messengers and stuff."

"I heard. None of you has, by any chance, done any investigating, right?" Denied shook his head.

"No way! And if you're about to ask…" He could remember that one time where Dave had been used for this exact thing. And far before, with Billy's old role… The merman won't let himself fall for the same trap, no matter what.

"Don't. Even if you were thinking it yourself. I will sort him out personally." Well, thank fuck. After that was said, Laura re-appeared.

"I have contacted Billy. He will arrive in 'approximately three minutes'." The statement was spoken curtly, with a slight bit of mocking, as expected whenever the two would interact.

Denied never quite understood why. The two were alike in various ways, and had something deeply rooted they could relate to. And yet, their whole dynamic was based on one-upping the other, like they were rivals. It was such a shame.

Viktor lost composure. "You WHAT?! Call him off immediately!"

"He has been requested as a technician, not as cavalry," And shockingly, Laura defended him. "But even if I tried, it would be futile."

"Yeah, she's like… One of his best friends." The merman added, attempting to be nonchalant.

"It was either him, or… Well. The only Dave who isn't a part of THRIVE yet."

"And Erie kinda… Scares him a lil." A second time.

"... Yes, she can be intimidating," Strobovski folded at last, but was clearly unhappy with the situation. "Alright, alright. Just. Have him repair her, and leave. And do not throw him out, either. I know how you can be about this." Once Laura departed again, he reluctantly looked at Denied. "I really hate to ask, but make sure she doesn't do anything funny, okay? If not because of me, then because he's your brother."

Goddammit. He got him roped in. The Tarwill's such a clever bastard. "Yeah. Okay."

Needless to say, the well-made robot gave him a confused face once he arrived. "Oh, hi Denied. What brings you here?" The fact that he asked in the same wording Viktor had almost made Denied laugh, but he kept it together as he explained. "Ah."

"To be blunt, even if I intended on disobeying him," Laura chimed in, tone deadpan, "I am not in the mood to lift a finger today. Consider yourself lucky."

"Really? And why is that?" Billy was questioning, as the two proceeded to follow her.

"Seventy-five percent of my selves were torn apart by the local big bad. You know how it is." She made it sound like it was a regular occurrence, although it most likely wasn't the case.

"... Oh," Billy dropped the bit. "My apologies. I didn't know."

"It's fine. They'll be alright. Mostly. A few were eaten, too. It's annoying, more than anything else." She paused, then tried to joke, "According to Alice and Tiara, I don't look good on him."

She was practically giving Billy ammunition for some kind of jab, but he didn't use it. "I cannot imagine losing a single one, let alone a few. And to then use you like that… That's terrible." Was this the part where they start getting along?

At those words, Laura stopped and turned sharply. "Don't get soft on me now."

"Under the circumstances, I am giving you a break. I recommend not getting used to it." Guess that's a "no".

"Good, then. I'm counting on it," Satisfied, she continued on. Not long after, the three of them reached their destination. This must be the infirmary that Viktor mentioned earlier. "You will find her in room one. Please make haste."

"Understood." Billy nodded, and proceeded further in. Denied stayed behind, knowing that his brother could take things from here. But at the very least, he'll stick around and wait. It shouldn't take too long, anyway.

The merman had just made himself comfortable when Laura spoke up again, tone filled with venom. "That insatiable sinner-!" Toward the others in the area, she ordered, "Evacuate the patients immediately! Alex has just entered Infinity School!" Then, she pointed at Denied. "And you! Get Billy and Erie to safety!"

"Yes, ma'am!" He stuttered, leaping from his seat. By the time he found the room in question, Billy had already packed everything up, but was using electrical tape to mend Erie into one piece.

"He has some nerve, striking right at this moment." The merman had no need to tell him.

"No kidding!" So instead, he agreed.

"You will have to help me carry her. I did not expect to need two of me." Billy finished with the tape, stashing it away. Together, they lifted the tall robot lady out of the room, and to the hallway beyond.

"Where to?"

"My house is closest. Unfortunately, flight is not an option." Of course it wasn't. Just their luck. "... And, he is now in front of us. Fantastic." Out and about, they couldn't turn very easily, so the only option was to stop.

"Long time no see!" Denied heard the demon greet, "You're looking great, Billy. I wonder if you've gotten any better since our last bout, many eons ago. Why don't you drop that dead weight you got there and show me?"

"Don't. Not like this…" The merman quietly suggested.

"I must decline," His brother took his advice, "I make better use of my time not entertaining your perpetual cycle of antagonism." DAMN. That one felt like Billy just launched a grenade in Alex's face. Denied nearly snorted from the imagery, but was keenly aware that his expression was at least out of sight.

The demon even went silent for a good moment. Then, he unleashed a maniacal laugh, one that lasted far too long for the merman's liking. Once Alex caught his breath, he replied, "Oh? I don't recall giving you a fucking choice. And tell that blue dumbass behind you to shut his trap. But in case you won't? I'll shut it for him!"

Okay, that's it. Denied managed to spin 180 degrees and hold position, gripping Erie's legs as he abruptly sped off, dragging Billy in the process.

Still, he replied, as Alex gave chase. "You leave him out of this."

"Or what? You'll shoot me with your pathetic bullets?" From the taunt, Billy freed one hand, turning it into a barrel.

"If that's what it takes, then correct."

"You're bluffing! There's too many people around!" A shot was heard, followed by Alex screaming. "YOU FUCKER-! HOW DID YOU ACTUALLY-?!"

"... I didn't." Was all Billy said, as more rounds sounded.

Angell🪷 (@VLANGELLICA)
Plan C initiated.
Turn around, demon.

And from in front of Denied, Laura appeared, separating him from Billy, causing him to fall over in the process. "You took too long." She uttered shortly, before taking both his brother and Erie away, most likely to the nearest exit.

He didn't even have the chance to say anything back.

Alex growled at the other newcomer, Angell, who wielded her gun. "So you got a few good shots in. Big deal. You do realize that it's gonna take more than your dinky little silver shells, don't you?" Viktor's protagonist didn't waver.

Angell🪷 (@VLANGELLICA)
I never miss.

As Denied rose, she eyed him.

Angell🪷 (@VLANGELLICA)
(Get out of here. You'll only get in my way.)

With a sharpshooter as great as her, the merman saw no reason to counter. He did, but unfortunately, he didn't know where the stairs were. Instead, he tried to find a further-off area where he'd be less audible. A locked door from within a wing gave him hope, using his skeleton key to get inside and latch shut.

At last, he heaved a sigh, trying to collect his thoughts. Okay, first of all, REAL convenient for Alex to show up right when he did. Also, STUPIDLY coincidental that they would face him so quickly. And, CRAZY timing Angell and Laura had to save their asses!

The very next thing he did was to check in with Billy.

MediterraneanWaves🦈 (@DENIEDCELLAR) [2:37 PM]
you good out there?

Well-Made_Account🧤 (@BILLYLĖ) [2:37 PM]
I am alright. I was thrown outside, but I'll live.
How about you?

MediterraneanWaves🦈 (@DENIEDCELLAR) [2:37 PM]
lol damn!
also this place is so fuckin confusing, i swear. built different, literally
but ill find a way out soon, dont worry

Well-Made_Account🧤 (@BILLYLĖ) [2:38 PM]
Good luck. Let me know if you need anything.
And remember: He always knows where you are.

MediterraneanWaves🦈 (@DENIEDCELLAR) [2:38 PM]
gotcha!

"'Man, this is so much…'" When finished, he muttered to himself.

"'Hello?'" Denied jumped when he heard a response, finally turning around with a cry of terror.

And saw a Baldi. He was sitting at a table, handcuffed to it, like in those cop shows. Hold up, where the Hell did Denied stumble into?!

"'Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you!'" He continued, with instant regret. "'I wasn't sure if you realized I was here, or when to say something.'"

"'You can understand me?!'" Bemused, Denied replied. Lithuanian wasn't exactly commonplace, even here. Only three game types total could speak it (four if counting Dave), and it was obvious which did and why.

"'Yes! I'm fluent in many languages!'" He nodded, then added, "'Anyway, I'm Baldi! … You probably already know that, but still. What's your name?'"

"Uh…" Denied uttered, switching to English, "It's literally 'Denied Cellar', but just the first part's enough." Baldi blinked, but wasn't deterred.

"Nice to meet you, Denied," He politely acknowledged with an attempted wave of his wrist. Afterwards, his tone began to turn a little annoyed. "I know we just met, but when Alex came back, I'd hoped I would be moved somewhere safer. But they just… Left me here."

And even worse, it was like Baldi was taken captive. Denied never would've thought that Viktor was this horrible. "Jesus Christ! Here, lemme get ya out of those." Once again he fished out his key, freeing the professor from the cuffs. "Okay, once Alex is on a different floor, we can escape!"

"Thank you!" Baldi smiled gratefully at him, but then frowned again. "That would be great, but I'm afraid that might not be possible."

Shit, he was right. Denied could hear him coming their way. He lowered his voice. "We may have to fight him until we get an opening…"

"Oh, no, I don't just mean that," The professor spoke in the same way, bearing a guilty expression as he struggled to stand. "Please understand that I never meant to do this, but…" Denied tilted his head. "I was compelled to come here by him, just so I would… Release him. It's a long story."

Denied stared at him for a minute. "So that's how he did it. I'm so sorry. Possession's a bitch to deal with."

"That's what he did to me?!"

"Pretty much, yeah…!" A loud knock interrupted their conversation.

"Hey, Tutor! I thought I told you to rot!" Alex yelled from outside. "And I see you've made a new friend! Too bad I'll have to tear him away from you!" Tutor… Why did that sound familiar? "By the way, Denied, I just remembered! I've eaten one of you before. Wanna see?"

The merman bared his teeth and snarled at the door. "You're lying! Screw off!"

"Am I? Are you suuure?" As the demon spoke, his voice began to change - to his own. "Why don't ya open the door and find out?"

Denied was going to, but Baldi held him back, unsteadily. "Don't! It's what he wants!"

"Fight me, Denied. You know you want to!" The merman, overcome with fury, immediately broke free with a roar. He dashed for the door and unlocked it. The second he ripped it open, he went for Alex, claws out.

And was clocked in his good eye, flying into the back wall. It took a few moments, but Denied regained himself, trying to get up. Meanwhile, the demon was cackling. While looking almost exactly like him.

"You know what? Actually? Why haven't I been using this look? Really would've given that weak robot chills!"

"That's enough out of you!" Baldi chastised, ruler selected. Oh boy, here we go.

"You're serious?" Alex sneered, "Don't you know anything? You couldn't hurt me even if you tried." Can't hurt him… Oh.

Denied suddenly recalled something, from ages ago.

Way back in the beginning, his game had two parts of himself - one who is kind, and one who chases down the player. They were usually referred to as "Tutor" and "Angry" respectively. Though, he and many others (if not all), had long since been combined into singular people, getting the best and worst qualities of each. In Denied's opinion, they really were just two sides of the same coin.

However, in Baldi's case, that meant…

This one was a Tutor, still separated from his Angry self. And just like Alex said, and just like how Denied was once, Baldi literally could not fight.

Even so, the professor didn't reply, only glared at the demon with a singular smack of his ruler. Maybe he was going to try anyway? Their enemy huffed. "Death it is then… Phony."

The next thing Denied knew, Alex charged, but Baldi brought the table up by its long side, like it was a shield. Then, pulled Denied inside with him. Once again, Lithuanian was being spoken. "'Can you hear me?'"

"'Uh, yes?! What're you doing?!'" He had no clue what was going on. Meanwhile, the demon was grunting, as he tried to get through their makeshift barricade.

"'I have an idea! I need you to keep our defense up! I'm going to force a flood event!'" The next item that appeared in his hand was a red clipboard, as he hurriedly scoured for what he was looking for. While bewildered, the merman went with it, using his strength to keep Alex at bay. "'Get ready!'"

Hang on, did he say a flood? Like in

From the floor, water began to fill the room, until it reached nearly half of its height.

Wait. Water. Water!

In that instant, Denied understood everything.

"What the fuck?! Where'd all this-?!" The demon noticed as well, pausing briefly in confusion.

"'Professor, do you need to breathe?'" The merman asked to be sure.

"'Nope!'" He managed to see him shake his head. "'Do whatever you have to do, just give us that opening!'"

"'You got it!'" Denied lifted the liquid higher, until it was more like a tidal wave. Then, he shot it directly through the table, pushing Alex along with it, all the way out the door. His gurgled yell was ignored for the most part.

"'Spectacular job, Denied! Now, all we need to do is find a whirlpool!'" He wasted no time with the instruction, using the current to swap to his tail. Technically it wasn't required, but it did hide how freaky it otherwise would've been.

"'Hop on!'" And soon, the two fled. Once they ended up on the other side of what they had searched for, it was only then when reality hit the merman.

He just met the Baldi from the photos. The one allegedly from the hoax. And on top of that, he and Denied actually managed to outsmart Alex. Though, he wondered how the professor knew what he was capable of. Intuition, probably? Regardless, it was hard to believe that this just occurred, but it did.

"'Okay…'" Meanwhile, Baldi sighed in relief, "'He's nowhere near us. That should give us the time to lose him for good.'"

"'Oh wow, yeah!'" The merman couldn't help but laugh, trying to suppress his sudden nervousness. Since the situation no longer called for it, he went back to English. "So, um… About what you did. There's- There's basically no reason why they should be holdin' you here. I can help you out if ya want!"

The event suddenly ended, both he and Baldi falling to the floor with a pair of yelps. Then, there was a warning shot.

Angell🪷 (@VLANGELLICA)
You will do no such thing.

"Oh son of a bitch…!" Denied cried out, seeing Angell down the hall. "C'mon! Your grunts left him to die! That's not fair! And none of you know the whole story!" Her face turned sickened, walking forward to reach them. The merman saw Baldi raise his arms instinctively, no longer carrying anything.

Angell🪷 (@VLANGELLICA)
I'd like to see you explain away the entire floor's water damage.
And Baldimore. Before you even think about trying to run, remember that I could always take out your other ankle.

Come to think of it, he did seem to have a limp. Denied tried, but it just amounted to, "Okay, but… Alex!"

"I did the only thing I could think of!" Baldi joined in. "I'm sorry about that, but we were cornered! Was anyone hurt?"

Angell🪷 (@VLANGELLICA)
Fortunately, no.
However, none of this would've happened if Denied didn't bumble his way to your location.
Alex lost interest in you, but this fool's prowess?
I think we all know who's to blame.

She gave a short pause, then leered down at the merman, gun pointed at him instead. He stared up at it with widened eyes, earfins flaring.

Angell🪷 (@VLANGELLICA)
Denied Cellar. In Viktor's stead, I'm placing you under arrest.
Comply, or suffer.

"... Could ya hold that thought? Resident villain's catching up to us. Again." What Denied mentioned was true. Quickly, Viktor's protagonist altered her aim, towards Alex.

"Deniiied!" He called, still looking (and sounding) like the merman, aside from his thin, black slit eyes giving him away. "You can't run forever! Somebody tell that to Viktor, too. I've got him on the ropes already! No Marzia, no Tiara, no Erie… Just him."

Angell🪷 (@VLANGELLICA)
Says the one who ran from me.

"That's because I don't need you, bitch," Alex scoffed, "Or nutty professor here. He's smart, I'll give him that, but it's not good enough. However, if you really want to go down with this sinking ship, fine!"

If anything, right now Denied was waiting for a distraction long enough to switch back to his legs. But if he was hearing correctly, he was about to get his wish.

But it was Baldi who let them all know. "Look out!"

Two windows shattered next to everyone, each of them trying to cover themselves against the debris. Perfect. Denied took the opportunity to make the swap, but by the time he was able to look again, Angell and Baldi had disappeared. Maybe they took off right before the impact?

Can't worry about that now. Standing at last, he looked in front of him again, seeing four characters land through the new holes. Candice, wand equipped; Olivia, holding a reaper's scythe; Scrina, cores ready to attack; and…

Aldurra, with a hand along with his own curved blade. And he had a new fit, too - a deep fuchsia and jet black sleeveless vest, striped in a V pattern, bearing a dark gray collar. Then, matching said collar in color, were asymmetrical, torn shorts ending around his knees. Completing the look was a pair of charcoal bracers, straps accented in dark gray as well. Most likely, so he could go between hand and weapon with ease.

He… Looked wicked. Platonically, of course.

From what Denied could see, the four faced their collective enemy. He could hear Olivia's smirk as she spoke to him. "What happened, Alex? Get too full?"

It didn't take long for Alex to overcome his stun, going smug in response. "You can keep coming back as many times as you like. I'll still kill you. Again, and again." Finally, he stopped using Denied's model, deciding on his standard disguise.

None of them were fazed by the remark. "Let's take this outside." Aldurra grumbled, to Scrina.

"Good idea." Her core lit up, enveloping Alex's entire body into a purple force field, promptly flinging him out of a third window, and beyond the Infinity School grounds. It happened so fast that the demon's shriek was cut off.

"After him. I'll catch up." Aldurra ordered a second time, but it was much more light in tone compared to the first. Nodding, the fairy, little robot, and reaper girls exited the same way they came in. Once done, he took a breath, turning to face the merman directly.

Denied vividly remembered their fallout like it was yesterday. The hurt, the pain, the anger. The belief that he was betraying him, keeping him from seeing the ones he cared about most. Denied had wanted to try and talk it out for a while, but never felt the time was right.

So it was strange, that Aldurra's face was a whole lot softer than expected.

He didn't say any more, so the merman tried, grin undoubtedly forced, afraid. "You… You look… Good." "Well", dammit, "WELL"! Why couldn't he have said "Well" like a normal person?!

But this demon just gave him a small smile. "Yeah…? Thanks. They helped pick it out." Oh, right, the outfit. Nice save. "You too, though I don't think you've changed much."

Why was he being so nice to him? The so-called two-faced backstabber? The brother of the robotic snitch? The both of them being privileged brats? Whatever happened to the angry, spiteful, antisocial Aldurra? The one who struggled to say anything remotely kind in his direction?

"Hey," He got the merman's attention again. "You're still thinking about back then, aren't you?" He nailed it. Denied could only nod, having lost composure already. "Don't be scared. I'm over it. Sorry I called you all that shit."

The merman found something to say. "I'm sorry I made you think that I was… I never would've done that to you, and…" He couldn't continue. Aldurra came forward, and it took everything Denied had to not step back.

"Don't worry, I know that." He shrugged it off. His scythed appendage became a hand, as he tabbed over to an item. A phone?! He showed him its screen. He had a handle now.

DerivativeHellion🌶️ (@Â̶͎L̵̗͑D̴̲͒Ū̷Ṛ̵̎R̴̯͠A̸̙̐)

And… He had no idea how he got that @ part to work. Then, Aldurra continued, "You wanna try this 'friendship' thing again?" The idea felt too good to be true, but he must've seen the way Denied's eyes lit up, chuckling. "I promise, it's okay. 'MediterraneanWaves', right?"

"Yeah. That's the one." He managed, while Aldurra went to look him up. Then, Denied got a notification.

"... And, there," The scythe came out again. "Anyway, I better go. I still have unfinished business with that freak. Though, you're kinda looking like someone who can't find his way out of a maze, so how about I drop you off at the front gate?"

That would be great, actually. The merman realized that it was all he was trying to do. "Please." He affirmed, following the demon to one of the broken windows. Then, from the back of his shirt, he was lifted off the floor, while Aldurra maneuvered onto the sill. Denied couldn't help but panic, suddenly noticing just how high up they were. "W-Wait, don't literally drop me!"

"Huh? I'm not. We're going together. I don't have fall damage anymore, but I don't know if you do."

"... Oh," He did his best to settle down. "Okay. Okay. I'm ready."

God, he hated heights, but this was still better than locating those damned flights of stairs. In seconds, the demon landed cleanly on the grass. As promised, right in front of them were the gold gates, left ajar. With everything that was going on, being outside again was soothing. Freeing.

"You good?" Aldurra asked, and Denied nodded. He was set down, and he nearly stumbled in retaining balance. "You know where Candice's school is, right? You should drop by sometime; we can catch up then." When acknowledged, he sped off with a small wave, finally joining the others in their fight with Alex.

… Maybe he will, Denied thought, as he accepted Aldurra's friend request.

But first, he found that he had one more stop to make, in light of everything he'd learned today.

Part of him knew this was the shittiest idea ever, impressive coming from him. Still, it was as though he had nowhere else to turn to. Unless Aldurra and his team magically was able to get Alex under control (which, no offense, he doubted it), the latter demon would only continue his onslaught.

All of Viktor's best were out of commission, including most of the Lauras, leaving the Tarwill vulnerable and stretched thin - even having to use his real body until the disguise healed. Billy won't truly fight their adversary unless he had Dave with him, and/or vice versa, but Dave seems to be pretty holed up at home for reasons mentioned before. And even with Angell, even with Denied and Baldi both… They only barely escaped with their lives.

That said, who the fuck else could they rely on now?

Denied stopped at his destination, but not without a gulp. Best case scenario, he could get those two to make up, bringing everyone back together, unified against that motherfucker plaguing them all. And just maybe, put an end to him at long last. And in order to have a chance of accomplishing that, Denied had to be trustworthy.

But if he told anyone, they'd beg, plead, scream, for him to not go through with this. He hated keeping secrets, but… It was a necessity.

So, next to the front gates, black and barbed, the merman reluctantly pressed the doorbell button. Right below it was a speaker, and soon a cheery voice came out of it.

"Oh, hey there! This is Dave #110; how may I help you on this fine day?"

For the love of God, just dingdong ditch instead. That's something Denied could still say happened. But he didn't. "Hi, uh, I'm here to see 1. I got this letter not too long ago, and I gave it some thought…"

There was a pause, as though the microphone was muted. Within a minute however, 110 replied. "That's great news! I'll just open things up for you; come on inside! 1 would love to meet you!" As stated, the gates opened up for him, and the merman had no choice but to enter. No turning back now.

It was clear to see that the first Dave's decor style was very different from the one Denied knew. His was cozy, not at all minding the defaulted state (though that may change soon?), but this place literally felt like stepping into the far future. It was fascinating, otherworldly, and alienating at the same time.

And everywhere he looked, the atrium was teeming with various Daves and associated characters, each and every one coming or going, and if not that, doing something. It was nearly overwhelming. Then, from nearby, 1's Green Alien Monitor approached him. "Welcome, Denied Cellar. 1 is ready to see you. Please follow me."

What came next was a slightly awkward elevator ride to the second floor, which was still visible from the main room. And after that, what appeared to be an office along the walkway of a hall. Just before leaving him, the merman caught how even he bore that red flag of a necklace. In fact, every single one of these guys did.

He just hoped that it wasn't required.

Denied knocked. "It's open." The answer was almost immediate. So he went in, face to face with the first Dave to cross over to the Webspace himself. He was giving him a warm smile, calm in demeanor, as he sat at his desk. "Ah yes, hello Denied. Have a seat." He did, in the guest's chair. "I don't believe we've properly been made acquainted. But it's alright; better late than never. So, did I hear correctly? That you're here due to my letter?"

With a nod, the merman replied, "Yeah. I… Gave this some consideration. But before I do anything, I'd like to ask a couple of questions."

"Go ahead. I'm more than happy to accommodate your concerns." 1 allowed, before reaching upward. From the ceiling appeared what looked like a tea set in silhouette, but covered in the same patterning as it. In moments, that dissolved into its true palette. A small trail of steam was even escaping the tea pot.

Offering a cup, he added, "Would you care for some?"

Chapter Text

Plus Baldi was greeted by a black void, not too unlike the very same one that existed underneath the contrastingly white expanse from his game. And just like in there, it was vast, possibly endless in size. Above him, wherever a "sky" would've been, a streak of white would occasionally pass by. But other than that, it was painfully empty.

Well, it wasn't like he was expecting anything else; in fact, trying to define the concept of the Internet into a "place" never really occurred to him to begin with.

Now then, where was that insistent caller coming from? He could still hear them, feeling it trying to reduce his mind to mush. It'll take quite a bit more than that!

The voice continued to mention somewhere, the "Webspace". Well no shit, it's a site online, but what exactly made it "the" domain left him flummoxed. But wherever or whatever it was, that nag took C Baldi.

When he finds the one responsible, let's just say they'll be recovering for a very, very long time. And that's if he's goaded into being merciful.

A bus stop appeared, next to him. Literally how? That wasn't there before! Still, he approached, only for the vehicle in question to show up as well. Where would this thing take him, exactly?

Better be his destination.

White, almost blindingly so. Vacant, absolutely vacant. It was rather weird, how he was, currently, its sole passenger - with a driver nowhere to be found. Automated, potentially.

Though, it was at least a whole lot more calm than earlier. Everyone back at Certified was initially in a panic, as the game was falling apart from a very important support beam abruptly disappearing. It needed both the guide character and their protagonist, minimum. If one vanishes, chaos!

Everything first started while Plus was training the others in controlling their elevated PURPOSES - Principal's EQUALIZE, Sweeper's PURIFY, and M's DETONATE. Each presented a challenge, and while it could easily be argued that M's would be the most volatile, admittedly? Sweeper's left him the most stumped.

PURIFY… What? Who? And why? Ah well, they'll all figure it out.

The newbies didn't even have elevations, but while it meant less students (ha), they got around this with their own stash of gizmos and devices, so it worked out.

Back to the point, C Baldi up and went missing, somehow messing with Susan's portal in order to enter the Internet. Sure, her game already had online capabilities, what with being able to send eMails, but wow. Usually that thing was just to allow passage between her underground lab and the professor's schoolhouse, but a one-time entrance to that digital world?

Maybe that voice told him how, for it took at least an hour for the lead scientist to re-enact the method. And that was after the panic was quelled. Someone else had to be renamed to "BAL" to restabilize things, but since it was uncertain how a completely different person would handle it, the volunteer had to be put under until further notice.

It was relieving at the time, to know that when Principal awakens, his best friend will be back. But, what if… That just never happens? The rules of the Internet differed greatly from the logic of their games; C Baldi could die out here, for good.

And if he went… So too vanishes all the hopes and dreams of everyone else involved with this whole project, especially his creator. Who… Plus was, deep down, wary about meeting. For practically the same reasons M is. Was. Either/or. Huh. So the two had something in common.

With the danger, and perhaps just a tiny bit of encouragement from that annoying voice, this was why Plus opted to go on the search. None of the others could or should afford to risk doing the same, and besides, Plus could handle shit a whole lot better than them. He was made to be nearly indestructible.

After that, uh, incident. With slamming his head against the wall, to the point of passing out. Back when he was still BADSUM. Back at HQ. Ugh. Don't think about it. That was about… Three years ago.

How they treated you is unacceptable, He could almost hear C Baldi tell him, if he were to know about that, But thankfully, they can't hurt you anymore. They made a part of me terrible too, as you know. Our skills were warped into bad connotations! But we're free now, and can choose what we want to do with them.

Right. Just like then, with the aforementioned training. The offering to lend his strength to help them all face BADSUM. Why was the professor so good at comforting?!

Well, obviously those words were being made up, but he could guess how it'd play out. It was the one decent thing to come out of their codes mixing around that one time: Knowing about the other in a way most cannot.

In any case, it was important for Plus to not fuck this up.

An unknown amount of time later, the bus stopped. Back to business. Plus wasn't too disappointed to get off.

He could see a large screen, but its contents were hidden. He tried to look into what it could be, but that didn't work. He probably had to be there, first.

Plus wondered if he could just walk in. His hand pressed against the screen, and

A dialog box appeared.

Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?

PBAL.CS

Verified Publisher: Basically, Games!, LLC
File origin: ?????

Technically, he wasn't an app. But still, so much for that. The person on the other side took a while, but for reasons he couldn't fathom, they clicked on "Yes".

At that instant, he spawned outside a building, on a stone walkway surrounded by fencing, bushes, and trees. Conceptually, it resembled his game, but the textures and such were quite different. Beyond that, he could hear voices. One in particular was racing towards him. One of the front doors burst open, and he was faced with a polygonal, living doll lady. And she was angry.

"Who goes there?!" She spoke, looking as though she could attack him at any moment. Plus resisted the urge to select his ruler. "Answer me."

"Oh, hi!" Instead, he put on his act. "I'm Baldi! Sorry if I'm interrupting anything!" While using those words to stall, he found the name of this place - a game called, "Alex's Basics in Biology and Zoology".

… He just waltzed into a fangame. Great.

"Before I get out of your hair," He then continued, trying to use this to find a silver lining. "I'd like to ask something! It'll only take a minute!" The lady crossed her stitched arms.

"If you are not gone by then, I'm going to kill you." She must detest unwanted visitors. Plus could relate.

"Have you ever heard of the Webspace? If so, do you know how to get there?"

Her head tilted, expression agitatedly confused. "The… The what?" Just then, two other characters appeared. Both were Human-looking (but still polygonal) women; one was a blonde in a silly outfit, the other a goth with black hair.

"Miss Dolly, wait!" The first called, "Don't hurt him! Matt let him in!" She nudged the second. "Tell her, tell her!"

"I guess someone out there had the same idea as me," Matt explained, and it became clear to Plus that this was simply the protagonist's model. "But it's definitely not him. I would've rejected that instantly." "Him", who…? Then, he turned to Plus. "So uh, Baldi? Mind sharing why you're here?"

"This is just a misunderstanding!" He waved his hands for effect, "I was trying to end up somewhere else, so I apologize!"

"He called it the… Web. Space?" Dolly relayed, but only understood about as much as he did.

"Never heard of it…" Matt too was at a loss. "I could look it up, but I might not find anything." May as well not stick around, then; overall, the area felt a little hostile.

"That's alright! I'll keep asking around!"

"Yeah? Okay. Sorry we couldn't help you out. Oh," The Human paused. "Did you get here from, like… Online? Your file location was bugged out."

"That's right!"

"Thought so. Well. Just be careful out there. If you see a 3D modeled guy named Alex, run. He's completely unhinged and will kill you. For sport. No joke."

Plus blinked. "Like in this game's name?"

"Yes," Dolly answered this time, "A few years ago, a rogue one invaded our home. Only four of us remain, after that dreadful day. I had to take over the school, just so everything wouldn't collapse." Shit. Guess it's not just C Baldi's game that's affected by that. Though in Dolly's case, perhaps becoming her copy's Alex wasn't a detriment. Or, the programming was changed to suit her better.

Plus didn't really want to find out which was applicable. Yes, he could, but should he? That always needs consideration, and at times, it's better to simply keep out of things.

That aside, there was a rampaging interloper. Who might still be out there. That fucker better not have crossed paths with C Baldi, or so help Plus… "That's awful! I'll be sure to keep my eyes peeled! Now then, I should get going!"

A third and final character joined in with the group, a shadow of a woman, carrying a broom. Since all Plus could go off of was body language, she seemed the most timid.

"BEFORE YOU DO…" Her voice was multilayered and wispy, but also pronounced. Given her words, she most likely listened in from afar. Hesitating, she reached out her item, as well as a sharpie marker. "MAY I HAVE YOUR AUTOGRAPH?"

His heart swelled so fast, that he nearly collapsed. Frankly, this should've been expected.

"Oh! Of course!"

Once over, Plus gave Matt the go-ahead to do… Whatever had to be done, to kick him out of there. And then, he found himself right where he was previously. In front of the screen. Did he ever truly go anywhere?

No dice, but he noticed something about the experience. By thinking about what the Webspace was, as well as the importance in finding who he was looking for, he instead ended up in Alex's Basics. Could it have to do with fangames? Maybe… One of those newer ones would be more intuitive

Another bus arrived at the stop. Couldn't he at least finish his thoughts first?! Fucking Hell. Yet, he boarded.

This trip took far longer than the first, and it didn't look like it would pay off. Another screen. Which one was it going to be this time? He began the same process as previously, though the dialog box was in a different language. Japanese, wasn't it?

Heh. Player tried to type to him in that once, but in "romaji", if he remembered the term correctly. What a funny day that was.

Wait, shit. There might be a language barrier. Just as he was about to pull away in hopes of cancelling the

Dear GOD was it bright in here. As Plus tried to adjust to the light, the colors and shapes slowly became clear. This place had a completely different vibe - best described as a cafe set in Spring, with a carefree, breezy emotional aura. According to the code, this game was called, "Eternal Tea Time".

In front of him was what appeared to be the player. Her model was of a middle school girl, uniform and all, with brown hair in a ponytail. Giving a forward bow, she spoke to him, nervously. "H-... Hello, Mr. Baldi. My name is Usagi. Do you… Speak Japanese?" She was struggling with the words.

Oh no. This was going to be awful. Not for him, but for her. He really should've just bit the bullet and let Player and Friend give him that multilingual functionality.

The best he could do in this situation was use as simple language as possible. At least his act had a naturally slow tempo. "Oh, hi! I'm sorry, I don't! But don't worry, I won't bother you for long! I have one question to ask you! Is that okay?"

Instead of replying, Usagi nodded. Plus continued, "Do you know what the Webspace is?"

She tilted her head, thinking about it. "Web… Space…"

Then, Plus heard the arrival of someone else, from their footsteps. It vaguely reminded him of Mrs. Pomp, in terms of the sound. Passing through the swinging doors was a tall woman character, with long, light pink hair, a matching, high-waisted skirt that reached her ankles, and a white top with a salmon necktie. In her hand was a tray, consisting of a tea set, and a plate of snacks. She stood next to the Human.

Please don't ask if he wants anything please don't ask if he wants anything please don't ask if he wants anything

"The 'Webspace', you say?" She added, as though she were part of the conversation the entire time. It wasn't surprising, however; she must be the "Baldi" of this one. And therefore, hears all. "Pardon my interruption. I am Lady Blossom. Thank you for visiting my tea house, Professor. Would you care for anything? Your journey surely must've left you worn."

FUCK.

"Oh, how nice of you!" He replied, "But I'm okay; don't worry about me! Anyway, yes, that's the one!" The truth of the matter was, he was always hungry - and he hated how difficult it was, to control the impulse to consume literally everything edible in sight. Even worse, was how the developers decided to interpret how he ate to begin with. He could never do so in front of anybody. Ever.

Luckily, at his attempted bluff of politely declining, Lady Blossom promptly despawned the tray. "Very well. If you change your mind, don't be shy."

He won't. Change his mind, he meant! He won't change his mind! Goddamn.

Finally, the Human gave her reply, mirroring his prior words. "I don't know… What it is."

"No, but maybe…" Lady Blossom uttered, then directed her next words towards Usagi, but in the latter's native language. The two of them had a short exchange, before returning to Plus.

"She has a friend who might be able to help you," She began, "His name is Hitoshi, and he has a copy of Texture Man's Basics! But he gets angry if you call him that, so use 'Text' instead." She couldn't help but let out a soft giggle. "Texture Man… Texture Man! He can't hear me say it!"

Well, at least Plus might have a lead. "I see, thank you both! Though… How do I get there?"

"Oh, you won't need to do much of anything. Usagi here will send you right over to them with an eMail! But in order to do that, you have to be downloaded to her PC. She'll take care of the rest!"

"Hitoshi is not home. But… Text can…" The player tried to figure out how to put it.

"Add me in, for him?" Plus attempted to finish for her. Her eyes lit up with another nod.

"Yes!"

Wow. Who knew some of these games could be so complex in programming. Nodding back, he affirmed, "Okay! I'm ready!"

It was hard to describe what occurred next. He probably couldn't, to be honest. All he could distinguish was Lady Blossom's voice.

"Nice meeting you! Tell Text I said hi!" A pause, with a small, daydreamy sigh. Her volume lowered considerably, but it was still no match for Plus. "Ah, Usagi. I want to see him again soon. It has been a while…"

Then, everything went dark and he slept.

When he awoke again, it felt like only a few seconds passed. Sure enough, he was at the entrance of yet another location - and a quick check confirmed it. "Text's Basics in Computers and Videogames", if using the correct naming. Ah, the subjects! It suddenly made a lot more sense for Usagi to bring him here.

Unlike the bright, airy aesthetic of Lady Blossom's tea house, this was a lot easier to adjust to. He had to admit, the wall lights were a nice touch.

Waiting for him was Text himself, holding a closed laptop under his arm. Plus could kind of see why others might call him what they do. The black and pink checkerboard shirt really resembled a missing texture. And speaking of reminding, that messy, black hair made him think of Player.

What an adventure he'll have to tell them, eventually.

Adjusting his glasses, the guide character began to speak, sounding very synthesized. "Hello there! I'm Text! I have to admit, I almost thought she was joking. Baldi, here? In the flesh? No way! But it's really you!" He cleared his throat. "Okay, sorry for fanboying. Anyway, welcome to my computer club! I hear you're trying to go somewhere called 'The Webspace'?"

It was starting to suck, being famous. C Baldi should be the one getting all this praise and admiration. But then again, these folks are probably expecting a specific mindset - the one seen in Basically, Games!' releases. And, well… He was nothing like that. It was the way it was ought to be, yes, but it wasn't like they were going to understand.

Perhaps someday in the future, they'll all be able to love Baldi for who he really is, too.

"I sure am!" Regardless, Plus didn't let himself falter.

"Great! Follow me," When Text motioned for him to, Plus did. Soon, the two were sitting at a table in one of the rooms, as Text re-opened his laptop. "So, you were probably hoping for concrete solutions, but just 'The Webspace' isn't very specific."

"You're telling me," Plus had to agree, "But that's where I keep being told to go!"

"Oh? By who? If I may inquire?"

"I've never met them, but they really want to see me!" Lying by omission, but it couldn't be helped.

"Another fan, probably," Text nodded, as though knowingly, "I also hear you came from the Internet itself. How does that work?" Without mentioning specifics, Plus described his earlier experiences - he went through a portal that took him there, and it was an endless black void, with bus stops that appeared randomly.

"Astounding…!" Text's asymmetrical eyes were shining. "Well, for the time being, you're back to being a file on a computer, so you're kinda stranded." Oh, shit. The consequence of being downloaded. "But not to worry! When Hitoshi comes back, we'll figure out how to get you out there again! Until then? Let's get a better idea of which Webspace we're looking for!"

Loading up a search engine, Text then proceeded to type in a speed that almost couldn't be believed. Could… C Baldi do that too? If only he could ask. He scrolled down the list, then skipped to the tenth page. "The top results aren't promising, so we'll have to scour a little deeper."

Until one caught Plus' eye. "Wait! What about this one?" It read:

lmao look at this fish - The Webspace Discussion Forum
Sept 27, 2019 - UH who is that in the background??? I see a character(?) .. omg LOOK OUT FOR THE MONSTER .. op did u get killed, pls respond ..

"Good call!" It was clicked on. They were greeted with a thread.

lmao look at this fish

Samanessa [3:48 PM]
i made the mistake of walking into the ocean and got lost, so have a picture of this low-poly fish
this game is absurd

The first post's image depicted exactly as described, framed around what was unmistakably a UI. However, in the blue haze of the background, was definitely… Someone. Plus couldn't tell who.

Past it, were replies, the same ones from the description of the search result. But even further, Samanessa gets back to them.

Samanessa [4:20 PM]
omg denied basics real (not clickbait)

Another attachment, but this time a short video. "Denied…?" Text was asking. "What's he doing there? That doesn't make any sense…" Plus wasn't sure who he meant, but given how the other recognized him…

"Only one way to find out, right?" He nudged, lightly.

"Indeed!" Text started the clip.

Gameplay footage, with a sidebar on the right for what looked like a chatroom. Samanessa was continuing to wander through the ocean floor. "'Watch out'? What do you mean, watch out? I don't see- Hey. Chat. C'mon. I think we were japed. We. We gotta admit that. How long's it been? Like an hour? Man."

From afar, another person's voice was heard. "Heeey!"

"Wait, what the-" The player turned around, and a few meters away, stood a character Plus hadn't seen yet. A light blue-skinned man with a single arm, hair even more vibrant in hue. "NOOO WAY! Oh my God!"

Meanwhile, Samanessa's audience was going absolutely nuts. Especially with the little face pictures. Saying things like, "HIM", "hes so BLUE", "DENIED HYPE", "ladies and gentlemen, we found him", "DENIED REAL", and Plus' favorite, "best timeline". He didn't really know why. It just sounded funny.

"What're you doin' out here?" The character walked over, unbeknownst to everything else that was going on. "Oh wait, wait, wait. Are you live right now? We don't get many of those!" He gave a wave. "Hello, world! Hope you've been enjoying the Webspace! I mean, it ain't much, but it's home!"

Text stopped the video. It took Plus everything he had to not lose composure. "Hey! It was getting good!"

Instead of replying, the other opened a new browser tab, searching up Samanessa, and finding a profile on a livestreaming site. He sorted the videos by the relevant year, and brought up the

Holy fuck. The full version of the video. Nearly three hours of footage, of which was scanned through. From what little Plus was able to view, there were various locations and characters, a lot of which shared even the slightest resemblance to his own, but weren't.

Fangames. It was all fangames. In a singular world. The difficulty in wrapping his head around the concept was immense. And C Baldi… Was lured into it.

Finally, Text spoke up again. "Sorry, Professor. But, I think… I think we know now. Whoever wants to meet you, is in there. And, this is just a hypothesis, but maybe if you focus your thoughts on this specific… Place, the buses will take you straight to it!"

Although unconfirmed, it was worth a try. So, Plus nodded.

Then, out of curiosity, he looked into the time, and realized something even more wild - it's already been over a month since this whole thing started.

It must feel quite different, when traveling the online world. Because to him, it felt more like an hour.

He better find C Baldi, and fast.

Chapter Text

From within the operations floor of his lab, Billy heard Erie jolt awake, and sit up. "What the f-..." She took a moment to survey where she was. "Oh, Jesus Christ. He got me, didn't he?"

"It would appear so," Billy replied, each of his vessels giving her more space. "Even in this situation, it's good to see you again. How are you feeling?"

"Physically? Like nothing happened," She demonstrated with the roll of her arm, but she sounded frustrated, "But my ego? Annihilated. We had him, and then he just-! I'm so disappointed in myself." Then, her tone softened. "But enough about me. Thanks, Billy. It's good to see you too."

He couldn't help but grin. "Trust me, I know the feeling far too well."

"And there's our solidarity," Erie joked, then asked, "So, how've things been on your end?"

Ah. Nothing particularly good. No point in dumping in more baggage than she was already going to deal with. "There's not much to share. I'm mainly keeping busy. Oh," A detour. "And before I forget, Alice is waiting on the ground floor. Are you ready to go?"

It worked. One of his selves followed her as she got off the table, joining her in the elevator. From the lighting, he was able to catch a small glint from her left-hand ring. But it's always been there, so why only now did he notice it? "Alice! She's okay, right? Tiara, too?"

"Not to worry, Alice is fine," He was easily able to assure, but when it came to… "Tiara, however, has had to reform quite a few times as of late. But that is all I am aware of."

"Ugh, I can imagine," Erie wasn't surprised, letting him push the button to get the both of them moving. "Between you and me? I think Tiara got more freaked out over Alex using Angell's looks than she lets on. I'd tell her that maybe she could sit this whole thing out, but we can't do this without her. Hell, last time, we only barely captured him!"

He recalled seeing the video footage, from that night in question. Come to think of it, it's already been over half a year since then. He no longer missed the responsibility.

"I'm just hoping that this'll come to an end soon. This is the longest he's ever been free."

"I know, this is embarrassing," She agreed, "How does one guy just keep getting… Better? While locked up? But we stay the same?"

"I have no idea." The floor was reached, and the two paused. They stepped out, once the doors opened. As promised, Alice was sitting in one of the room's chairs, but she got up quickly.

"Erie!" She called, and was lifted off the ground by her much taller partner, the two sharing a hug and kiss. From the same hand, was a matching ring.

No, not just "partner". Wife.

What previously felt trivial, was suddenly unnerving. When he erased those memories, was one of them from their

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" His train of thought was broken when the history teacher gave him a short embrace, but no doubt sincere.

"It's no trouble at all." He replied, very much in modesty.

Soon, the three of them made their way out the front entrance of his home. "So, what's the plan now?" Erie was asking Alice.

"Ah, well… Viktor needs you to retrieve memories for a testimony. We have a prime suspect who's admitted to releasing Alex, but he's having a hard time describing how exactly."

"Shit," Erie spoke under her breath, "It was that 'esteemed guest', wasn't it."

"That's the one." The history teacher nodded, in apprehension. As much as Billy would've liked to learn more, he didn't want to be nosy.

"Alright. The sooner we know, the better. Honestly? I want that guy to go home as much as he does. Something tells me he was never meant to be here."

"And as a rogue…"

"And as a rogue! You get it!" The librarian paused. "What about THRIVE? Has that gone anywhere?" Just bringing it up gave Billy an unpleasant, internal chill. Still, perhaps he could…

"I hope I am not interrupting, but I know something about it."

"Please, by all means!" Thankfully, Alice didn't seem to mind. If anything, she sounded relieved. So, he brought up the recent 'shelter' thing 1 decided on, figuring that the 'sending messengers' ordeal was already well-known by this point.

"Wow," Erie responded, after he finished, "Then I'd be hard-pressed to get one of them to spill the beans on that whole Gathering thing. Unless…"

"Honey, don't," Alice refuted, but lightly, "Aldurra and Alex was one thing, but this is too much…"

"I know. But this feels like an emergency too. Just one set of those memories could save everyone. Like, if we continue being in the dark, we might have a revolt on our hands. And between that and Alex…"

What a terrifying notion. Still, should Billy even be involved in this? Then again… What if this meant Dave could know, even partially, what occurred? But the method in order to do so is indeed dubious. It was conflicting. Maybe he should ask him.

Oh, wait. He hasn't seen any of his DMs in the past five days. Perhaps a visit to his house might help. While the two kept talking, he sent another of himself over there.

And once at the front door, knocked. He waited, and there was no answer. "Dave? Are you home? I have been trying to reach out, but… All I've gotten back was silence. This is concerning." Billy stopped. That… Sounded clingy. Desperate, even. It hasn't even been a week. Was this why?

He shouldn't get ahead of himself. Calm down. Rationalize this.

It's not like Dave to suddenly stop replying, or not see his messages. If Billy was the problem, Dave would've been forward about admitting it. He was not the kind of person to keep it inside, or pretend, or hide in his house in order to push him away.

Okay. No. This is worry. Worry is normal. Worry is normal…

"I understand how important this is to you," He then continued, "However, I would've appreciated advanced notice in the chance that you'd go unresponsive. Or am I missing something?"

… For all he knew, Dave might not even be home. And Billy would just be making an idiot out of himself. So, he tried to ignore the long string of unnoticed DMs, as he added to the pile.

Well-Made_Account🧤 (@BILLYLĖ) [2:19 PM]
Hi Dave, just checking in again.
I've stopped by your house today, but you don't seem to be here.
I'm beginning to grow concerned. I know it hasn't been very long in retrospect, but I do miss you a lot.
If you're free, I'd like your input on something. It's about memories.
Anyway…
'I hope you're doing alright. I love you.'

He glanced down at his left hand, holding his ring finger. This… Has been a semi-recurring thought for a while already, but today made it more prominent. The timing couldn't be worse. Or, did it make sense, due to the situation?

But no matter how things were going, Dave didn't have fingers. Though, if he knew, maybe he would find that to be a ridiculous reason to not go through with it anyway, and the two of them would make it work somehow. For the moment however, it was best to let it be.

He turned away, and left. Just in time, too, as he suddenly realized that Erie and Alice were trying to get his attention. The self who he was speaking to them with. He's never… Zoned out like this before. Was something wrong with him?

"My apologies," He suddenly said, "I got lost in my thoughts."

"Aw, it's fine," Erie shrugged with a grin, "I was just going on this tangent about the theory of relativity." Ah, yes. As one does, from on the lawn of a purple, well-made house.

"A shame I missed it," Her demeanor was contagious. He probably needed that. "Anyway, before you go, I have something I'd like to talk to you about."

"Go ahead."

"I want to remember our past." Where did that come from? Oh. Right.

"Really…?" But Erie put a hand to her chin in thought. "Well, I have been hoping to find a test subject for my pet project. Sure, I wouldn't be able to retrieve things that weren't already mutually shared, buuut…" She was unexpectedly on-board with this.

"Man, this is great!" She continued, excitedly, "If I could turn the videos into a 3D simulation, I could just change the viewpoint! Obviously the target's thoughts and feelings and such wouldn't be acquirable, but it'd almost be the same thing!"

The way she described it sounded so feasible, sensible. And to add onto this, Dave… Not only could he know, but he would then be able to (somewhat) have his own take on it returned to him. Provided, of course, he was willing. And if he was doing okay to begin with.

"But should we be doing this…?" Alice couldn't help but inquire.

"If people want to!" Exactly.

"Okay, okay… But after the testimony."

"Oh, yeah! Doi…" Erie giggled. Then, she turned back to Billy. "So, what do you say? Are you in?"

The well-made robot bore no hesitation. "I'm in."

"Yes!" She cheered, "Meet me at my house tomorrow. 8 o'clock. Bright and early!"

"You got it." He could feel himself growing lighter from her enthusiasm.

"Alright, let's get this other thing over with," She mentioned to Alice, who nodded. Both waved Billy farewell, and the two leapt high into the air. "Thanks again! See you later!"

"Goodbye! See you then!" Billy half-mirrored, voice raised in hopes they would hear. He couldn't wait.

"In here!" The next day, Erie was almost pulling on him, she was so hyped. Once done, she added, "Okay, this is my current set-up. Just sit anywhere, and we can get started."

The room looked more like an office, frutiger aero in aesthetic, and had an open space in the center. It was quite large, no doubt to accommodate for Erie's natural height. There was a computer with multiple monitors, four in total. Three were lined up, while the fourth was placed on the wall above, much larger than the rest. There were a few chairs, of which he seated himself in.

"So, after we talked, I gave it a try," Erie continued, "Check this out." She spawned two USB connectors, inserting one in the back of her television-like head, the other into the PC. With a wireless connection established, a drive's contents were displayed - two folders.

ERIE_MEMORIES
ERIE_PROGRAM

The relevant one was sorted very cleanly - by years, by date, then finally, by people or events. Erie picked one from 2021, and the top monitor lit up to play it back. In the empty part of the room, a visualizer mapped out the recorded moment, into a 3D space. Pausing the memory, she then gestured to the hologram.

"You can see Candice and I! And then I can just…" Moving closer, she was able to reach into her duplicate's head, plucking out a camera. "Put this wherever I want to! The table, the wall, the window, or even her!"

Nestling it right between the fairy's eyes, she let things play again. Sure enough, the viewpoint from the large monitor showed the alteration, as though it was never Erie's memory to begin with. "Annnd… Voilà! Artificially Regenerated Memories; ARM for short! What do you think?!"

It was… "Incredible… This is quite the breakthrough." He was ready. "If you're able, I am still completely willing to participate."

"I was hoping you'd say that! It'll be quite the process, though."

"That does not bother me." He couldn't stop smiling.

The both of them got to work, making their way through their first meeting, various times they passed by the other and chatted, hung out together, every little recollection. Apparently it'd been Erie's idea to tell Dave his feelings - he always wondered how he randomly got the gumption to do so.

Erie and Billy progressed, and just as suspected, there was. A wedding. Between her and Alice. Which he attended. Melancholy set in. "... I regret forgetting. This one hardly has anything to do with me, and yet…"

"Hm, yeah, I thought I noticed you glancing at our rings," Erie replied, "Look, it's fine, really. It wasn't even your fault." He disagreed, but didn't want to say so.

Finally, he noticed that she stopped, right on the day that Alex arrived. "Alright, that should do it! Now I can copy all these over, and then we can do the tedious, sorting stuff."

"Wait, isn't there… One left?" Erie quieted.

"You… Won't be needing that." A part of him wanted to trust her word. But a much more overwhelming portion was morbidly curious, to see just how everything fell apart. And yet, what if it affected him? Everything here will have been for nothing.

No. He won't allow it to. He promised.

"I understand. However, I wish to see it." Erie sighed to herself, clearly hesitant.

"Okay. But on one condition," She paused, "Know that this horrible lapse of judgment doesn't define who I am, and who we were to each other. I realize that it might be hard, but… And for what it's worth, I would never do that again."

Billy nodded, agreeing to those terms. "Please, proceed." It played.

Erie was in a rush, as she pulled him away from his original job, to help search for Scrina. Alex had yet to be captured, but word had broken out about the murders by his hand. The smaller robot wasn't mentioned, so there was a slim chance that she was still out there.

He took off into the sky, most likely utilizing multiple vessels to cover more ground, but Erie could only perform high leaps to get around. Multiple times, she DMed him, frantically prodding for updates. And his responses were… Unusually brief. If that was what got her even more upset, he couldn't blame her.

They'd searched for several hours, and were fruitless. Meeting back at Infinity School, she let him have it. Here too, he was frustratingly without emotion. Was he just that shocked into acting like this? No wonder she was at her wit's end

"I promise, I'm doing everything I can. Unfortunately, my CPU is near its limit." He heard himself say. Wait. But that only happened if he used more than one hundred of his selves at once.

Oh no. That was the reason. And Erie doesn't know about that.

He was dismissed, with a remark about loss of family, and from behind his back, deemed worthless. At some point, he must've shut down one of his selves, allowing him to feel again. And sometime after, deleted Erie from his mind. He distinctly recalled sitting in the darkness of his house, alone, curled into himself. His face was wet, wondering why he'd been so miserable to begin with, and what were those 99 vessels doing, again?

And then… His friends. His family. His boyfriend. Their safety became top priority. In time, he and Erie would only continue drifting apart, the latter turning resentful once he disallowed her from seeing Alex - the one who knew exactly what happened to Scrina.

From her perspective, Billy was, in fact, a real piece of shit.

"I'm sorry, Erie." His voice was unsteady, as he turned to look at her. She wasn't even watching the screen, staring at the wall.

"No, Billy, don't…"

"Please, let me explain," He saw her pause, then nod. "Yes, we couldn't find her. Yes, I'm not the best at consoling. However, I feel like this was worsened by my overall behavior. When I mentioned my CPU, I meant-"

"No, I get it," She faced him again. "You don't just coordinate that many of the same person, with that level of complexity, without hitting some kind of hurdle. Could I do that with ten? Probably not. Let alone 101."

"... But then, afterward…"

"Well, yeah, that shit hurt! But we didn't know," Her hand landed on his shoulder. "Billy. I'm okay. We've forgiven each other. We're talking as friends now. But you? Are you okay?" That was hard to answer. Aside from being able to do this, he wasn't.

"I may need some time." Was all he could say.

"Thennn, we can skip that one for now. It'll take forever with the others already," Erie replied, then noted, "This next part will require a lot of focus. You up for it?"

Billy re-composed himself, ready to confirm, but stopped the second he opened his mouth. A DM notification. Surprisingly, there hadn't been any up until this point. Maybe it was from Dave! That would really help right about

Dave🪛 (@THRIVE_Initiative_1) [9:32 PM]
Come to 82's house. He needs you.

"I have a confession to make," The robot abruptly got up, talking at a fast pace. "I am unable to continue with this at the moment." He hurriedly relayed the issues he was facing, that he had previously decided not to divulge. Minus the recurring thought; too personal.

"... Holy shit," Erie stared at him in awe, then turned assuring. "Yeah, okay, go see him. We can pick this up again another time. I'll have them all ready for you by then."

"You don't mind? I know it's sudden-" He was lightly pushed to the door, flinching.

"Go, Billy. It's fine. I'd do the same thing," But her face and tone were considerate. At last, he nodded up at her, then left hastily. When she thought he could no longer hear, she muttered, "If I could catch that 1 bastard…"

Whatever she meant by that, Billy chose ignorance.

"-Activity levels: Normal, and focused," Was the first thing Dave heard, as he slipped into consciousness. "82 should regain full functionality in three. Two. One." Immediately after, his eyes opened, finding himself lying on his work table, seeing the red ceiling of his attic's roof.

It was exactly where he last recalled being. But who was that talking? It sounded like him, but in a much lower octave; possibly one of his counterparts from The Future Is Here. How had one of them gotten into his house?!

He tried to turn his head, but found it difficult. "Mobility is hindered. Expected, but temporary." There was a pause. "Here. I'll make it easier for you." Dave saw blurs of colors, as the other person lifted and sat him up, keeping a hand on his arm. "If I let go, you'll fall."

It was… Wait, who was this, exactly? He was definitely unique - dark gray top, minus the "Robot Suit" text and buttons that a Future Dave would've had, but still had the visor of one. Around his neck, he bore a THRIVE pendant, but that practically went without saying. He was also floating, revealing his unchanged legs, with white shoes.

Overall, he was so familiar, but Dave struggled to piece together how. It was on the tip of his tongue!

"Oh, right, you've technically never met me in person," His visitor realized. "Well, you'll probably flip your lid, but that's fine. I'm Dave #1."

In that instant, everything clicked. With whatever he could muster, he tried to shove the intruder away, but missed by a wide margin. "WHA' ARE OO DO'IN IN MUH 'OUSE?!" Even talking was a challenge. He tried to select his toolbox, but it fell right out of his hand, clattering noisily to the floor.

This was the worst. He was completely, utterly at 1's mercy. What had he done to him?!

"Hm, good try," 1, surprisingly, was unfazed. "Keep that up. It's important to rebuild your muscle memory. And to answer your question: Making sure you didn't die. An anonymous informant tipped me off about your new… Hermit phase. That's my thing, not yours. So I went to investigate. And what in God's name did I find?"

It was like he was expecting an answer. "... Wha' di' yoo fine?"

"Your body, in a pixelated pile of dust," 1's face turned frustrated. "You're lucky. Could you imagine anyone other than a machine language interpreter finding you like this?" How… How could've things gone so wrong? Dave thought for sure… "Also, I finished your procedure, down to your specifications. Except for the parts that I had to modify, or else it would've resulted in you and your house exploding."

No. That couldn't be! Was it possible that 1 was exaggerating? Judging from his incredulous tone, he most likely wasn't. "Look, I know we don't see eye to eye. But would it have hurt you too much to swallow your pride and ask for a second opinion?"

It was none of his business, Dave wanted to say. But it would've come out pathetically. Instead, he ignored the question. "Wai'. Iv tha's true, why isn' i' work'n?"

"Oh, but it is. Perfectly. Go ahead, try something." He knew exactly what he wanted to do, but nothing happened, no matter how hard he focused. Why won't his own home attack his intruder? This was supposed to protect…

That jerk. He sabotaged him!

"Buh it's not," Dave wasn't sure if it showed, but anger seeped in. "You made sure ov tha'."

"Yes, and no," 1 caught on with ease, "The thing is, you can't keep me out, Dave. Who do you think designed the house cube?" Oh no. "You can change how yours looks, lock it all up, put lasers in it, target them at anyone you see fit! But they won't fire at me, because it recognizes its true maker. And unless you really know what you're doing - which, you've proven to me that you absolutely do not - you can't remove my mark on its most internal systems."

In case he was skeptical, 1 lifted his free arm, gave it a wave, and the roof folded in on itself, revealing the outside world. Dave was unable to hide his horror. "Wha-?! Put i' back!"

And 1 did, doing the same motion, but in reverse. "It will do as you ask, but only if it doesn't cause me harm. That's all. The only catch." And it destroyed the whole point of this. All that time spent planning, sorting materials, working… For nothing. "You're welcome, by the way."

Overcome with a mix of terror and rage, Dave let out a yell as he managed to push 1 back, but promptly fell forward and hit the floorboards. "Ow…"

With a yelp, he was suddenly lifted up by the front, greeted by the scathing gaze of his older counterpart. It made his fury dissipate real fast, cruelly being reminded of how little power he had.

"You ungrateful little…!" 1 began, "I just saved your life! Your home! Your relationships! And you decide to bite the hand that helped you? Like some… Arrogant twit?!" Another thought seemed to cross his mind. "Unless… Listen. Do you have any idea what happens to Daves who're left unchecked for too long?"

Dave couldn't reply. But 1 didn't appear to want him to.

"They go mad with power," He continued, "Which leads to them turning evil, or getting a God-complex, or both! And that road inevitably ends with their demise! I've seen it happen outside the Webspace countless times! Believe me, if my reach was on every corner of the Internet, we'd have at least twice as many of our selves than we do today!"

He gave Dave a minute to take all that in, as he, at last, calmed down. "And until this moment, I was convinced that it would never happen here. But I should've known. From the second you tried escaping. I have to keep a closer eye on you." Tried escaping? When?

Once again, 1 could've been making a mountain out of a molehill. For as much as Dave has seen, his fellow selves were practically harmless. But on the other hand, that's only accounting for the ones who did make it here. Still, his intentions were not what 1 was thinking. The opposite, in fact! But…

"Even so, I don' have to ex'lain anything." His voice ended the monologue, despite its shaky tone and imperfect phonics. He was given an unimpressed stare, that Dave was certain was piercing into his soul.

"No, I suppose not," 1 replied at last, "But that doesn't make any difference. In the end, though you may not see it, all Daves are precious to me. So long as I live, I will look after them. Each and every one." Then, from Dave's own inventory, 1 reached in and procured his wheelchair, unfolding it. How did he… How could he…?!

"You have people who love you immensely," He added, as he set Dave in it. Like a parent for a mere child. "And they would be dismayed if you went off the deep end. Remember that the next time you almost disintegrate your form. Please. It would make our lives easier." Picking up Dave's toolbox, he set it into his lap, and he was able to stash it away.

"That being said, I know you don't want me sticking around," 1 went on, as Dave tried to wrap his head around the fact that he somehow won (or lost?) that argument. "So allow me to get you someone you prefer." 1 tabbed to his phone, "hmm"ing to himself. "How about Billy? Won't that be fun? I'm sure he wouldn't mind." No, but Dave would. A lot.

"I don'... I can'..." He wasn't sure how to put it, without giving too many details away.

"Don't, what? Need anyone?" Close enough.

"Yes."

"Oh, please. There will always be times where we need to be cared for. You are no exception. The sooner you accept that, the better. Honestly, I'd thought you would've seen this coming - completely restructuring your house, mind, and body with pixel nanites? What were you expecting, that everything would've been hunky-dory?"

"Then, how'd you do it?" Wow, a sentence that wasn't butchered.

"One piece at a time. The way it should go," 1's answer was so collected, unabashed. "Again. A second opinion would've done wonders." He deselected his phone, moving behind Dave to gingerly push him forward. Even then, Dave did his best to hold on. "Billy saw my message. I'm sure he'll arrive shortly."

If not for his condition, and the fact that he'd probably pay for it, Dave would've socked that self-righteous version of him in the mouth. And the worst part? 1 was right. And Dave hated it.

Once the two were in the living room, it was a few minutes before their expected guest appeared. Of course, he knocked. "Dave? I got here as soon as I could."

"Do come in," 1 answered for Dave. His partner did so with urgency, but had the wherewithal to not tear the door down. His pupils bore those red, glowing dots. Yet, 1 remained eerily calm as he greeted him. "Hey there, Billy. It's been a long time."

"What are you doing here." It was less of a question, and more of an interrogation. To make matters worse, his hand changed into a bullet barrel, but not the size for a tranq dart. No. This was a rifle.

"Hmph, put that away. You wouldn't want to have to fix up that arm again, would you?" A few moments later, Billy reluctantly caved in, and even the dots faded away. "I'm sure he could tell you everything you need to know. But out of curiosity, how long are you going to keep stalling?" Wait, stalling? What was he going on about now?

"I do not understand." But both Daves could see it in Billy's eyes - feigning confusion.

"I think you do," 1 tsked, "You are a terrible liar-"

"Tha's enough!" Dave butted in. Whatever his other self was going to say, he knew it wasn't going to end well. "You did wha' you came here to do, 1! Now get ou' of my 'ouse!" Both peered over at him. Then, surprisingly, the first Dave nodded.

"Fair point. Besides, I have important work to do elsewhere," He acknowledged, "Get well soon. I'll be watching."

He went toward the ceiling, but just then Dave remembered something, using everything he had to turn his gaze up at him. "Wai'. One ques'ion." 1 paused, facing him again with the tilt of his head. "Di'... Did Billy 'ip you off?"

"... No," Was 1's response, "Couldn't you tell? Goodbye." Without any further delay, he phased through the walls, and presumably, went outside entirely. Silence hung in the air, as Dave limply lay against the back of his wheelchair.

Of course it wasn't Billy. What a stupid thing to ask. 1 must believe he is, with a blunder like that. Or, and this was wishful thinking, it could be pardoned due to his current state.

He heard Billy's steps as he approached him. From his peripheral, he appeared nearby, with a look of worry. "Are you alright? Did he hurt you?"

Dave tried to face him, and it wasn't easy. "No, he didn'. I'm fine. I's jus' tha'... I's rea'ly hard to 'ove."

"How… How come?"

"I's… A lon' story," Dave sighed, "Look, I know wha' I've said, an' I don' like a'mitting i'. Buh while I'm like this… I need some'ne to…" C'mon Dave. Just say it. "To take. Care. Of me." Now, was that so bad? Yes. "An' I trus' you, more than any'ne else."

After taking a second to process this, he saw Billy bend down to his eye-level. He felt his cool, synthetic skin-clad hands cup his head, gently tilting it towards his direction. "Very well. I'm here for whatever you need. And, you can tell me all about it if you like. I always have time for you."

Gracious. Forget Dave for a moment, was Billy okay? Not knowing how long it's been since he last spoke to him, Dave checked the time and

OH GOOD LORD. Nevermind, this explains everything!

"Aw, Billy… I've 'ade you worry. I'm so sorry."

"... Yes, I would've liked having advanced notice," His partner agreed, though lightly, "But it's alright. What's important is now."

"I will nex' time, I promise!" Dave did his best to try reaching for one of Billy's hands. He noticed, and met him halfway. "This 'ay sound weird, buh I think I'm tired of this place. May I stay a' yours?" In spite of the circumstances, perhaps it might help make up for it.

There was much he wanted to catch up on and discuss, including that odd "stalling" thing 1 mentioned, but Billy seemed uncomfortable talking about it. That in particular could wait. Preferably once Dave felt normal again.

To the question, the well-made robot blinked, then gave a loving smile. "Of course."

Then, as if on impulse, he leaned in and kissed him. While unable to properly reciprocate, Dave's free arm clumsily wrapped around Billy, almost tightly. Billy surely must've noticed, but didn't waver.

Chapter Text

Aldurra began to notice something strange. Well, on top of the other oddities as of late. And to be fair, the Webspace in of itself was a weird place. What do you expect, when you shove a bunch of fangames into a sandbox? Multiples of the same, even?

But that wasn't important, no. What was, was this: Denied was randomly disappearing from his radar, sometimes for hours. Very abruptly, in fact - in all the time before meeting up again, Hell, as far back as the day they met, not once did this occur.

What, did some other Denied show up, who just so happened to have that kind of power? Specifically tailored against an Alex's sensory bullshit? He doubted it; how the fuck would that come to be, anyway? The only other explanation was that the merman was leaving the Webspace entirely, regularly, which also felt confusing. Again, why would he do that?! Neither case made any sense!

Was it Aldurra himself? Was his ability on the fritz?!

Okay. Find… Viktor. Infinity School, second floor, Infirmary. While it almost entirely had to do with body heat (and the ripples their movements made to the air around them), what gave him and all Tarwills away was how cold their internal temperatures were. As much as it would've been nice to go rough him up a bit for being falsely imprisoned, he seemed to already be dealing with a lot, due to Alex.

Aren't we all, Aldurra thought.

Try a harder example. Uh. Billy, he guessed. Oh fuck, he lost count after twenty. The robot was all over the place, simultaneously, like always. Neither warm or cold, but instead matching the area around him. However, he was almost always doing something. Did that guy ever get tired?

From there, Aldurra could spot all kinds of people, whether humanoid, robotic, supernatural… Hold up. Weren't there supposed to be a whole bunch of… Shit, what was his name? David? No, that definitely sounded wrong. The goofy ones in wheelchairs, who somehow don't run over their own legs from the lack of supports.

He asked the first person he could find, from where he was at - Candice's. It ended up being Olivia.

"It's 'Dave', you dumbass," She snorted. "I think they started their own religion or something. Whatever it is, Strobovski hates it big time."

"What the fuck?" Okay, if this domain wasn't already off the rails, it had to be now.

"Oh my God. Don't tell me you haven't come across a single one of the messengers."

"No?" What was she going on about?!

"Well, that's fine. I think I scared 'em off, 'cause he only came here once." The demon could imagine it - some poor Dave knocking on the doors to Candice's school, the aura bright and welcoming. And then faced a skeletal lady who wore an outfit that made her look tough as nails.

The shaking messenger probably only managed to hand her a letter before riding off at top speed, most likely screaming in terror.

"Okay? But what's that gotta do with them disappearing?" Olivia shrugged at the question.

"Beats me." Utterly unhelpful.

"Well, I'm going hunting."

"For… Daves? Or Denied?"

"I think you know."

"... Make sure you roast him first." To that, Aldurra gave a small laugh.

"Oh, believe me. I will."

And so, the search began. It was already dusk, but it wasn't a problem. He first ventured into the merman's natural habitat - the ocean. Then remembered that he can't swim out of the water. It was promptly skipped. Near the boardwalk, was a purple house. Maybe he's in there. Or maybe he knows. Aldurra hoped he wouldn't have to ask.

Let's not mince words here. Aldurra got the fury out of his system when it came to the robot. It was now best described as ambivalence; like, yeah, shit happened, but it's over and done with. Still, if he could help it, it was preferred not to have any further encounters.

Oh yeah, and the gem kid? That didn't matter anymore, either. Poor ol' shortstack just got in way over his head, and that's it.

Anyway.

The demon stealthily peered through the windows, but couldn't find the blue bastard (affectionate). Unfortunately he was spotted, having to duck. "What the-? What's Aldurra doing here?!"

The voice was definitely not Billy's. It was… Wait. A Dave? Aldurra really thought there weren't any left! When he tried to sense him, he could only feel a collection of pixels tightly holding together, to not fall apart like grains of sand. The subtle vibrations was the only thing that made him aware that Dave was present at all.

This wasn't normal. What in the fuck was going on around here?!

He heard the robot approach the window, Aldurra digging his claws into the walls and climbing above it. After a few moments, Billy reported, "I do not see him."

"Huh? That's impossible!" The other joined him, with a distinct whir of his motorized wheelchair. There was a pause, then, "I swear Billy, I am not imagining it…!"

"I wasn't going to say that." Aldurra's grip was slipping. Shit. If he moved any more, they'll surely hear. His only option was a very brief moment of possession, and honestly, he wished there was another way. But it's all he had.

"Leave the wi-" He tried to whisper the direction, but cut himself off as he fell. His yelp of surprise was thankfully overshadowed by Dave's yell. He heard the window shatter, but only when he was on the ground did he realize that a wrench was meters from his position.

The powdery bastard tried to hit him! Self-defense probably, and sure Aldurra was snooping around, but…! Okay fine, Dave had every right to.

"Ah. He is still here." The robot nonchalantly acknowledged.

"Gracious, I'm sorry," Meanwhile, Dave's words were muffled. "I think I can fix it." Oh, the window. Welcome to the club.

A laugh. The demon didn't think that was possible. "Don't worry about it. I'll go fetch your wrench." Aldurra expected to have at least a few seconds to attempt an escape, but stopped cold as he watched Billy use a laser to cut the remaining glass out of the pane, before leaping through it and over him.

He rolled to a stand, effortlessly picking up the item, before turning back and gazing upon Aldurra. The precision was flawless. Or, maybe Billy was just showing off.

"Hello again," He greeted, in his "I'm being polite so you won't try to tear me apart because that was really fucking annoying of you" voice. Then again, Aldurra had to admit that he was likely projecting. "I hope you are not here to cause more trouble for me. I thought we established that we should not be enemies."

Nevermind. The demon was right on the money. He stood, noticing the slight flicker in Billy's gaze, as though looking behind Aldurra. "Nah. I'm actually looking for your brother."

"What has he done this time?" The robot's expression and tone became more obviously wary.

"That's what I'm hoping to find out. Dude's been disappearing a lot recently, and it's been screwing with me."

"Disappearing…" At first, Billy repeated, in thought, "Strange. I saw him yesterday."

"Not like that! Okay. So. You have, I donno, ten of yourselves flying around right now-"

"Twelve." Billy corrected. Aldurra gave him a look.

"Twelve," He groaned, "But I can't find Denied anywhere! What's up with that?!"

"... Alright, you raise a good point. Though, I do not know why. My apologies." No dice.

"Then, you also probably can't tell me where all the other 133 Daves fucked off to, right?"

"Excuse me, if I may?" Aldurra turned, seeing that the only one remaining hadn't left. "Uh, right. I'm Dave 82, but please, just use 'Dave'. Sorry about the whole 'throwing my wrench at you' thing." With a nervous chuckle, he cautiously reached through the window for a handshake. Honestly, Aldurra already forgot.

"It's nothing." The demon shrugged it off, returning the gesture. In spite of what he could sense, the appendage felt solid. Weird. Dave's nerves seemed to calm, but not by much.

"In any case, the rest of them are hiding out at 1's school," He then continued, until Aldurra gave him a look of confusion. "... Dave #1."

The demon found himself snickering, asking in jest, "Number one… What makes him so special?"

"He means that he's literally the first one to come here." Billy supplied, as he walked back over, handing Dave the tool. Hold on. If that was true, then… 82's wasn't arbitrary or rank-based either?!

But to be fair, Aldurra did spend his first several months here living in a hole in the ground. In two different locations. Even now, he was still adjusting.

"Oh," Was all he could say. But while piecing it together, there was a revelation: If that's where they are, could they and Denied be correlated? "Well, I guess that's my next clue. I'm outta here." He didn't give them the chance to reply, sprinting off.

Try as they might, however, Aldurra caught a bit of smalltalk after the fact. "He's… Much taller than I thought."

"213 centimeters does seem like a lot. But then again, Erie is two mes stacked together."

"Ah, yes, that's right…"

Night, overcast in clouds, had settled in when Aldurra found the place at last. Damn, he probably should've asked about what it looked like, or where it was. Before he could try opening the front gates, he felt a presence nearby.

Alex. In truth, he'd been vaguely aware of his obscene counterpart, but idiotically chose to ignore him. But he no longer could, as Aldurra faced him head-on, meters apart.

"Just you today?" Alex spoke first, his grin wide-set as usual. "Well, great! That'll make this easier."

Aldurra huffed. "Can we not do this right now? I'm busy."

"Busy, eh? Are we looking for the same thing?" Christ. He should've known what his choice of destinations would've implied. "A certain resident? Who's very… Blue?" It took effort for Aldurra to keep his cool, deciding not to respond.

"I really shouldn't be bothering to tell you this," Alex went on, "But that imbecile is surprisingly valuable. Are you aware of how many Denieds he's composed of?" Again, Aldurra didn't entertain a reply. "Fifteen. Not bad for a more obscure game, but… You see where I'm going with this?"

When did he learn that? Aldurra never really gave it much thought. And yet, it began to make sense; the merman was full of abilities and quirks, which could only be due to becoming an assemblage of copies and versions.

But it wasn't uncommon, even he knew that. "So? He's not the only one who blends their selves together. What's he to you?"

"That's true! But here's the thing," His malicious variant smirked, "None of the others would be as fun to nab. This aquatic bastard, on the other hand, has lots of connections. Family, friends, including you. While I would make everyone hate me more, it won't matter. Once I have him, there'll be no one who can stop me anymore."

He wasn't wrong. Everyone who loved Denied would be spun into a rage, only to fall to despair once they realize there's nothing they can do about it. In fact, it'd tear Aldurra in two. Billy to scrap. And whoever else to pieces.

And Alex will just stand there and laugh at their suffering. That sick son of a bitch.

And what was worse? Something else dawned on Aldurra. "You didn't go to Viktor's to finish him off."

"Ding ding ding! We have a winner!" Alex pretended to ring a bell with a small laugh. "So! The million dollar question is: Who's gonna catch him first? You, or I?"

No way. Was this motherfucker seriously suggesting that Aldurra should

"You already understand how doomed you are if I win. But, if you took him… You just might be able to start keeping up with me. If you're really lucky, kill me once and for all! Wouldn't that be great for you and your pathetic friends?"

When Aldurra mentioned hunting, and Olivia said to roast Denied, the two were joking. He could never

"And all it takes," Alex's teeth began to show, "Is one. Little. Sacrifice." The idea was disgusting. Revolting. "However, I'm not gonna wait around for you to make up your mind. As soon as I'm able to? He's mine."

And, theoretically speaking, Aldurra would be the one despised, no matter how noble the intention. If Alex believed, for even a second, that Aldurra would take the bait…

"Okay. For that crock of shit alone, I'm going to kick your ass." Alex hummed to himself, somehow disappointed.

"Really. I just gave you the intel on how to beat me, and you spit on it. Just when I thought you couldn't possibly get any lower. Other Alexes would've jumped at this chance to have an edge! What the actual FUCK is wrong with you?"

"I could ask you the same thing. What Alex goes around killing off innocent copies of games, especially his own, for fun?" It shut him up, as he blankly stared through him.

Then, he took a breath. "Wow. Touché. I suppose I am also the first of my kind - one end of an extreme, you on another. It's all so obvious. We were always fated to be enemies. But I wonder who'll come out on top." His scythe appeared, and quickly, Aldurra did the same, but with both.

The demons charged for each other, and even if Aldurra knew he couldn't destroy him on his own, he could at least give him a bad time. The clash sent a wave of sound so piercing, that many would've heard it.

Aldurra could only thank his prior experiences, aware of every trick his adversary could pull, finding it easy to be unfazed when he tried clawing at him with an unrelated Denied form.

Oh yeah, he already had one? Aldurra wouldn't be surprised if this asshole had multiples of various folks in his collection. Victims to a character devoid of mercy. Perhaps if Alex finally died, they would be able to pass on, to whatever afterlife awaited them. … Assuming there was such a thing.

When a slash failed to harm him (but it did leave a nasty tear in his vest; fuck, he loved that thing!), Aldurra got an idea. He bit down on the arm, leaving Alex unable to pull it back. With his own, his enemy's blade was severed, trying to ignore the agonizingly loud screech that followed. Of course, unlike Viktor's axe, it will grow back. But for the time being, Alex had nothing left.

"YOU PIECE OF SHIT!" Aldurra was blindsided with a powerful right hook, releasing the remaining arm. Stunned, he only registered a flash of blue before he was effortlessly lifted and tossed somewhere.

The fence. Oh God, not the fence. All he could do was brace for impact, eyes squeezed shut and teeth grit.

Luckily, he'd landed in between its poles, but it was still going to be obnoxiously difficult to wriggle out of this. Vision upside down, he saw Alex approach, now completely looking like the merman, ready to strike.

And at the same time, so suddenly, Aldurra sensed many, many characters. The Daves. Their various affiliates. And, most importantly… No. It couldn't be. But it was.

As well as he could, Aldurra blocked with his scythes, as his opponent's face split open in all four directions. "I'm so fucking tired of you. I want your pathetic existence erased! It shouldn't be that hard! Why won't you just DIE already?!"

Aldurra emitted a growl, holding position. Still, at least his tenacity was pissing him off. Then, a Dave flew out of the school, high in the air as he sailed overhead. Too quickly for Aldurra to register, Alex was pulled away from him.

And… Didn't return. Huh. Wild, but he'll take it.

Once he gathered his bearings, he attempted to free himself from the clutches of the fence. It wasn't working. Shit.

He was about to call Olivia when he heard the front doors open up. Then, voices that sounded like… Dave 82? Yeah, him. But none of them were him.

"Alright! I think the coast is clear!"
"Good lord, that was scary…"
"Wait! One of them is still here! He's stuck!"

A pause.

"... And neither of you are going to do anything?"
"Oh! Are you offering, 46? Bless you!"
"Yes, you're so kind! We'll just… Wait here!"

A facepalm, and a muffled sigh. "Cowards." A quiet whir as Dave 46 approached, wheeling through the gate and reaching him. Around his neck was a strange, inverted triangle pendant. Or perhaps it was intended to be a pyramid, like a reverse Illuminati kind of deal. Regardless, it must be the emblem for the, uh… Thing. "Excuse me, sir! Do you need any help?"

The demon was told to try turning to his side, but even with added lubrication, he couldn't budge. "Darn, you're really stuck in there. I think we'll need some extra muscle. Thankfully, I know just the guy! One minute, okay? I'll be back!"

"Sure." 46 left him there. But it didn't take long for Aldurra to notice the movements of… Him. He didn't really have the time to ponder it before, but why was he here? Why was he hanging out with all these Daves? What if he was

"Oh. Oh my God, no. No no no no no! He can't see me like this! Nobody can!" Aldurra stiffened. It'd been a secret. As if knowing that if it wasn't, something bad would happen. But why did it have to be about this?

Out of nowhere, Aldurra was yanked from his prison, thrown, in fact. Disoriented, he met the pavement with a yell. But that wasn't the end of it, as he began to notice a burning sensation.

He was wrapped in a silver chain.

Tugged around again, and forced off the ground, he became face-to-face with its wielder. A floating, futuristic-looking Dave, but not quite. Like 46, he too wore the bronze necklace. In his free hand, a gun-like weapon appeared, aiming at the demon's head. By contrast, his voice was much lower in pitch, and his face and tone suggested that he meant business. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't pull this trigger."

Trying to ignore the sizzling pain of silver on his arms and calves, Aldurra replied, "For… What crime, exactly?"

"You led him here. And now, you know how we've been hiding."

"Hey, it's not my fault that the fucker followed me! Besides, I don't think he needed me to realize that."

The gun jabbed harshly against his forehead. "Stop wasting my time, Aldurra."

How'd this guy know his name? Which one was he, anyway? At least somebody who's high ranking.

"Jesus. Fine. I'm getting the feeling that this is less about Alex and more about… A particular follower of whatever bullshit triangle religion you guys got going on here."

"And?"

"Look buddy, if you're that worried about me squealing, don't. I hate snitches. Beat the Hell out of a robot about it once." The demon wasn't given a reply for a short while, only a stare. Then, the weapon was lowered, he was released from the chains, and he fell onto the road again.

"Very well, then. But if I see you and Alex near my school again, I won't be so forgiving."

"Yeah, uh… Whatever, man," Aldurra groaned, slowly rising to his feet. When the Dave began to leave, he added, "Hey. I know you just saved my ass, and I appreciate that. But I've actually been looking for him. Think maybe you could let him take a break from praying to the pyramid or whatever? For like, five minutes?"

A pause, as he considered it. "My Initiative is no laughing matter. However, if that's the worst you can do, then I don't see why not. I will retrieve him. Keep him for the night, if you so desire." His Initiative? Ah, that must be their leader. Dave #1? That explained a lot.

When 1 went over the fence, his entire body disappeared, along with being able to sense him. Okay, how was he doing this shit?!

As the demon pondered, his attention was brought to the gates, which he saw open on their own. Then, from seemingly nowhere, Denied stepped out, quickly seeing him. And just like the Daves inside, he also wore the pendant.

The merman was despondent, as though expecting to be ripped into. At this point, Aldurra was just happy to see him. The expression didn't change as he approached. "You okay? Ya kinda look… Er, hurt."

"Meh, I've been through worse. So, this is where you've been disappearing to, huh?"

"I-It's not what you think, I swear. I can explain…" The fear was evident. Or was it guilt? Shame? A mixture?

"How about you do that when we get to your place?" It was the safest location they could venture to, considering Alex's latest shenanigans. As long as Denied took him back to the surface, Aldurra didn't mind the trek as much. Plus, his all-black wetsuit made him look both slick and sick. Wicked, even!

Alex can fuck right off with the whole "Oh my God why are you a demon full-time, how disgraceful" shtick. He was probably just jealous. He could have every disguise there is, but none of it would beat the feeling of self-acceptance. Â̶͎l̵̗͑d̴̲͒ū̷ͅṛ̵̎r̴̯͠a̸̙̐.

Back to the point, the merman gave a nod at the question. On the way, Aldurra couldn't help but add, "... Do you wear that everywhere?"

Denied shook his head, then unequipped the accessory. "Only while I'm on school grounds, usually."

"... There're things I can't say, but I have a good reason for doing this. It's, well." After the two had reached their destination, Denied told him. All the while, the demon couldn't help looking over that weirdass pendant. Where'd 1 get these things?

Anyway, apparently he and Viktor used to be really good pals back in the day. And when Alex showed up, it indirectly broke them apart. Through THRIVE, Denied hoped to eventually get them to make up.

What initially started as a wild goose chase, was now the realization of how entrenched the merman was. Aldurra hoped he wasn't going to sink. And as innocuous as Denied's goal was, the only thought on the demon's mind was how to cheer him up, at least for a little while. It might sound weird, but he kinda missed when Denied took shit in stride, laughing off any danger like it was nothing.

While Aldurra could appreciate the new sensitivity, as the circumstances of long ago weren't the best, he wouldn't refuse seeing both traits. A confident smirk when things got rough, but also being serious when appropriate.

But how to bring back that old spark? The demon guessed that it was something to work towards. For the moment, perhaps a joke or two would help.

"Damn. And so we're clear, you're not worshipping a triangle?"

"... No?"

"Fuck. I knew it was a pyramid."

"No, man! That's not…!" But Denied was chuckling.

"Shouldn't it be a circle?"

"Wha-? Why a circle?!"

"Pi. You know, 3.14. Isn't pizza kind of like a pie?"

"Oh my God…" The playing dumb act was working - through his laughter, the merman gained enough courage to let Aldurra have it. "That's-... That's Geometry! They do Algebra!"

"Ah. Shows how much I know, then. Hell, in mine, biology implies Humans, but no. Just plants and animals."

"Hm, yeah… Though, that does remind me," Denied paused, face softening, "I've been thinking. Like, if I ever had the chance to, I would've had my subject changed. Marine bio." He stopped, noticing Aldurra's stunned look. To the demon, it sounded so perfect.

"Hear me out!" But the merman viewed it as skepticism. "Sure, people learn a bit of zoology and shit, but that's only accounting for the surface! Aquatic life's an untapped market! Underutilized! We still haven't mapped out all of the depths! What the fuck is down there? Who knows?! And that's why we need more people willin' to find out!"

Denied would be wonderful at teaching it. Why stop at a mere revision?

"I think you should go for it."

"What?"

"I think I want to kiss you."

Denied froze. "That's not what you said!"

"Ha, then you did hear me the first time."

"Are you-… Are you flirting with me?!"

"Didja want me to?" This felt familiar. Where has this happened before…?

The merman was trying to hide his face, turning away to do so. He muttered something, in a language that the demon didn't understand. Lithuanian, wasn't it? Then, he continued, trying to keep composure, "... Maybe when this is all over, I'll look into it."

Chapter Text

Dave called an emergency meeting. Every THRIVE member would be there. Between #2 - 81, 83 - 134. Every single side character who was considered mature enough. And that outsider, Denied Cellar, who Silver thought of as gullible, willingly joining such a sham of an "Initiative".

Since no one else took the bait, Silver almost felt pity. Almost.

As for those from his own copy, they were just following orders. Silver was sure none of them actually embraced this whole thing. Dave was far too powerful to be stopped, even before now. If the gem turned metal had to guess, it all started when his old teacher decided to go, as they called it, "future mode".

Yes, that's probably when it began.

Going from one game to another was basically unheard of. But to be fair, once more Dave games began to crop up, it did feel important to establish something in order to visibly distinguish themselves. So, a partial mix of The Future Is Here it was.

Dave was now a flying cyborg. PlayRobot became a scientist, surpassing far beyond her original purpose. Spike seemed to like being holographic. Gamma (Or "Green Alien Monitor" as he used to be called), meanwhile, had very little changed. Gotta Sleep, none at all, as there was pretty much nothing new. Nor Cell (Or "Error", his outdated name), for he lacked a counterpart to base anything off of. Thankfully, he didn't want to, anyway.

And Silver, well… He figured it'd make him stronger. And until the day he met an actual Silver Man, he naïvely believed it. Each of them had mentioned various, negative things.

"THE FUTURE SUCKS, ACTUALLY"
"MY DAVE WISHES HE COULD GO BACK"
"SILVER IS A SOFT METAL, SORRY"
"I WANT TO BE ABLE TO TALK AGAIN"

Among other statements that quickly made him regret his decision.

When asked, Dave said, concerned, "Why would you want to do that? Besides, we can't - your model and code's already been overwritten to save on the domain's storage space. You'd have to find another Diamond Man willing to cooperate."

By "cooperate", he meant to copy their attributes for his own. Even if nothing bad would happen, it still felt wrong. So Silver never brought it up again.

Then, the other Silvers mentioned something.

"IT WILL NOT BRING BACK YOUR MINERAL"
"BUT MAYBE IF WE WERE ALL ONE PERSON"
"WE WILL BE STRONGER TOGETHER"
"YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO TALK ANYMORE, THOUGH"

Even so, he took the plunge. From there on, any time a new Silver appeared, they were given the same offer. It turned out that this method, merging, did well to keep the aforementioned storage space lower, so Dave allowed it when Silver requested a larger model.

And if he was going to look after the other Daves, then Silver decided to do the same with the gems. He didn't mind, as it gave him a little less to worry about.

Once THRIVE started, however… Silver couldn't stay there anymore. When asked why he was moving out, Silver lied, "IT IS GETTING TOO CROWDED".

"… Very well," Dave reluctantly permitted, "Just be sure to attend our meetings."

In hindsight, the fact he didn't even try to keep him around was disheartening.

There was nothing in the Webspace that could house him, due to his great height. Additionally, he didn't want to have to use one of Dave's house cubes, for complicated reasons. Worst of all, the hard way, he figured out that he couldn't build anything.

He nearly panicked from the failure - almost like Dave knew this would happen, knew it wouldn't work out, knew Silver would just go right back to him. To the one place that could accommodate.

Then, from the rocky part of the shoreline, someone had heard his yelling and punching at the ground. "Are… You alright?" It'd come from Billy, who maintained a distance of at least fifteen meters. Vaguely, Silver remembered him; the weirdo who thought he could take 82's Dia away, until the young diamond explained the situation.

One thing led to another, and soon Silver watched as a dozen more Billys arrived at the scene, effortlessly constructing him a home of his own. They worked like a robust colony of ants. How many of himself did he have, anyway? Dave could only dream he was this efficient.

The end product was more closely resembling a hut, but it was just what he wanted. He couldn't be happier. Any and all previous quarrels and suspicions were immediately dropped and forgiven. He even scooped up as many of the Billys as he could into a hug, and Silver wasn't known to be one.

After bidding the well-made robot(s) farewell, he settled in. He wondered how Dave would react, once he realized that his metallic ex-student wasn't going to return.

And that pendant? Buried in his inventory, unless he needed to keep up appearances.

Not long after, he would take in two other minerals - Gold from 99, and Ruby from 77. Both claimed that their Daves were "becoming weird", and they didn't feel safe. Although his hut was made for him and him alone, the larger space allowed them just enough room.

But they were brave, running away like this. Who knows how many more characters wished they could do the same. Dave's "Initiative" was tearing copies apart, not uniting them further. Could he not see it?

Finally, back to today. Every time there was a THRIVE meeting, Silver practically had to force himself to attend, and sit there in silence as Dave babbled on about the plans. He could swear his old teacher was slowly going crazy, but was utterly oblivious to it. This viewpoint couldn't just be his, either, but he wouldn't doubt being in the minority.

However, this gathering was different.

"Alex nearly breached the school, as you're all aware," Dave began, with a solemn, but determined look in his gaze. "Which means we will have to be ready to perform the coup ahead of schedule. I know that not everyone is prepared. For those of you who are, it is now your task to help the rest catch up. Instead of our projected date, we will now strike in three days' time, at 9:32 AM sharp. Mark your calendars."

For once, this news caused an outcry. But there was nothing any of them could do.

As for Silver, if no one else was going to give Dave his much-needed intervention, he might have to. But first, he had to put his thoughts together.

It felt weird, only having one of his vessels active. But if what Erie mentioned previously was true - and Billy wholeheartedly believed her word - then there was no point not to. He was going to need that optimal focus, and the straightforward narrative that comes with not having a bunch of events occurring simultaneously. At least this way, he could help minimize the time required to sort and place all the memories into his mind.

Still, being used to multitasking made him feel so… Empty. There were several dozen things he could be doing at once, but cannot. He tried to keep steady.

"I'm aware that I've asked you eight times," The well-made robot recalled with ease, "But are you positive you don't want to come with me?" While he knew how Dave felt about Erie in general, he hoped his trying to include him came across.

"Yes, Billy, I'm sure," He could hear Dave suppress a groan. Ah, nine was one time too many. Got it. "Besides, I'll be fine on my own. In fact, I think I'm almost completely recovered now!" To test this, Billy brought out a small rubber ball, tossing it at Dave from meters away. Quickly, Dave caught it with a "Ha!", before throwing it back to him.

"You're right," Billy then nodded after grabbing it, "It's just… If something were to happen, I won't be able to do anything." With a frown, Dave wheeled over to him.

"Are you antsy?"

"Maybe. The last time there was only one of me, it was when I first moved here. Perhaps it's more accurate to say that I'm restless."

"Oh, my," Dave gave him a soft grin, taking the well-made robot's free hand into his. "I think I get it. Well, in the chance that I do need anything, I could always ask somebody for help! But in any case, once you're all finished… What you could do is wake up another of your selves and let me know!"

Billy could feel some of the tension easing away. Holding his partner's hand in return, a smile began to form. "I will do that." He paused. "I'm also unsure how long this'll take. It could be the entire day, or more. If I don't come back for a while, then…" Dave's hand moved up to his shoulder, expression unwavering.

"Then, I'll keep waiting for you. It's okay." After another moment of thought, Billy nodded.

"Alright, I'm off. 'Love you.'" As they separated, Dave waved, grin widening.

"'Love you too!'"

The day has arrived. Sunny skies, except with a few clouds to give it more variety. Perfect weather.

In all honesty, 1 hoped that the presentation alone would make Strobovski surrender. But there was always the likelihood that he would be too stubborn, so each and every THRIVE member participating in the coup was outfitted in sturdy, but light in density plate armor, flight compatible. Engineered himself. It favored black, with an orange accent. It was absolutely stunning, in his opinion.

And this was just for those who were going into combat. There was a section of others remaining who wanted to help, but couldn't fight for one reason or another, so he set them aside into another section - the orchestra. Turns out that Daves were commonly musically-inclined, when not teaching Algebra, or doing mechanical and/or technical aspects. Anyhow, those ones also got special force fields, guaranteeing their safety.

Thanks to them, Viktor will hear THRIVE coming.

The last few, who could neither attack or play instruments, worried that they would be deemed worthless, but it was not so. He gave them two options: carry an amp for the orchestra, or one of THRIVE's flags and banners. It was a simple design, with three vertical stripes; sky blue, white, and dark gray, from left to right. In its center, within the white stripe, lay the inverse triangle, in a light orange.

And they, the amp holders and flag-bearers, would also be shielded from harm, like the orchestra.

He remembered 35 suggesting throwing confetti, until 1 noted how someone would have to clean it up afterwards. 35 was about to retract the idea, but 57 and 101, both flag-bearers, volunteered. But one thrower wasn't going to be enough, so 68 joined in for the task. The whole exchange was amusing, but 1 approved of it. There were now confetti throwers and cleaners. Protected too, obviously.

While he wouldn't admit it, something as silly as making their airborne march as extravagant as possible was a weakness, one he couldn't overcome.

Even though many were unsure if they would be adequately ready on such short notice, 1 saw vast improvement in the time that followed. Impeccable, he described it. But all in all, he had to trust that they knew what they were getting into, what could happen to them. This was the part where they needed to take care of themselves.

9 AM. Various members were already filing out, the Daves having left their wheelchairs in the building's walls. They and others settled into their designated spots above the road. They'd been surprisingly fast learners, when it came to flying in the armor. Perhaps it'll be all that's necessary.

Out of the many, Denied showed up as well, but from elsewhere. 1 repressed the urge to leer at him. But that came easily, when Silver called out to him.

"DAVE" 1 turned to him, finding that he'd snuck in from the back. He didn't even have his equipment on. Or in his inventory. "WE NEED TO TALK"

"Whatever it is, it can wait."

"NO" Silver was shaking his head. "IT REALLY CANNOT"

"If you want to drop out, just say so."

"THIS IS ABOUT MUCH MORE THAN THAT" Finally, the first Dave sighed.

"Then, let's make this quick."

"YOU ARE MAKING A HUGE MISTAKE" His former student started immediately, as if not caring if the other members saw his words. "YOU HAVE TO CALL THIS OFF"

"Too little too late for that. We're going over there, and making the most of our circumstances." Politely, they opted to ignore the conversation, and proceed as planned.

"THEY ARE JUST GOING TO GET HURT" The metallic giant continued, "AND EVEN IF YOU WIN, YOU WILL BE RULING THEM BY FEAR, NOT LOVE"

"The shock of today will fade with time. They'll come around. They'll understand."

"BUT YOUR GAME DOES NOT WANT THIS" Silver hesitated on writing out that sentence. "THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER WAY"

He was starting to remind him of 82. So misguided. "I'm sorry, but there isn't. We must."

"PLEASE, DAVE" Now he was keeping him from flying through the Anti-Alex barrier. "IMAGINE IF YOU COULD RESOLVE THIS BY TALKING TO HIM"

1 stiffened up from the notion. "That… Is no longer possible. Now move, Silver." He didn't. Instead, his eyes began to glow, illuminating his face in the old, light blue of his diamond past.

"then, i am going to save you from yourself" As fast as lightning, 1 was snatched out of the air, storming the both of them back towards the inside of the school. Various THRIVE members yelled in surprise, trying to stay out of the way. "no matter what it takes"

Save 1 from himself? What was he implying?! No, he clearly didn't understand.

"Silver! Unhand me this instant!" 1 struggled, his former student somehow thwarting his attempts. "Don't make me use force!" The last thing he wanted was to lash out at one of his own, but if it was necessary…

Silver ignored him, as he barrelled into the atrium. The remaining members could only cling to the walls, in hopes of not getting in the middle of it. He stopped in its center, unsure of where to go, but his lapse of focus was an opportunity. With a single unrestrained hand, 1 pulled at the titanium floor, a chain morphing from it and striking Silver. It set 1 free.

"This is your last warning," He spoke over the distorted cry, just so it wouldn't affect him, "Do not test me." He didn't move, so 1 went to leave

And Silver gripped his leg. Then threw him into the back corridor. The sheer velocity prevented him from restabilizing himself, crashing to the ground roughly. And like a knife cutting through air, the metallic giant charged, intending to stomp him.

Just like when anyone dared to mess with the gems.

There was no talking him out of this. 1 was a threat to him now. And knowing that was more painful than the impact only seconds ago.

But what 1 was going to do next, hurt far worse.

He managed to roll out of the way, taking to the air. Another chain burst forth, this time wielding it. He blinked the blurriness from his eyes, disguising it as flinching from a wound. "Alright, Silver. You've left me no other choice. I hope you're happy."

The clatter and clanging of the opposing metals was shrill on the senses, but neither faltered for long, adjusting to it swiftly as the two tried to weaken the other. For 1's part, he held back. Despite this, it made his metaphorical heart ache with each swing.

Their altercation took them to the auditorium. Silver had to keep from tripping over the rows of seats, but whenever he did, 1 would hide saving him from falling behind a failed grapple.

It didn't matter if Silver meant him harm. 1's only plan was to wear him out, and then

"Holy shit! Guys!" Someone came in, sprinting down the path between the seating aisles, nearing the stage, of which 1 and Silver were now upon. Denied. Ugh, that no-good scumbag. "Now's not the time! Stop fighting!" 1 detested how right he was.

Both continued their bout, 1 giving him an answer. "It'll be fine. Go back outside."

"This isn't right! Ya two could get really hurt!" Denied was climbing onto the platform.

"STAY OUT OF THIS, MERDEMON" Silver tried to push him off with his leg. But Denied wasn't stopped, instead scaling up the metallic giant like he was a tree.

"Okay, I'm gonna have to ask you about that later, but for now…!" Somehow, the wretched creature was physically separating them from each other, with his one arm and a foot. "Seriously, break it up! You're scarin' everyone! Sort your shit later, okay?! With words!"

With the heat of the moment quelling, a realization struck 1. Oh no. Denied couldn't. He shouldn't. If either 1 or Silver got any more aggressive in his presence, or worse, the merman might lose control. This was the exact kind of situation that would cause it. His ADAPT will jump right to HARMONIZE, and

As much as he loathed him, 1 will not be responsible for burning out his other eye.

So, he played along, backing off and disarming himself. "… Yes, of course. My apologies, I know not what overcame me just now. Let us move out." The blue idiot fell and hit the stage, but was undeterred, getting up fast.

"Please. I just want this to be over, man…" Satisfied, if one could call it that, Denied began to leave.

"I empathize. I too wish for this to conclude," 1 acknowledged dryly. Once their meddler was gone, he turned to Silver, tone softening. "Please, just… Stay here. Don't make this harder than it needs to be. I know this sounds terrible, overblown, perhaps even cruel. But it's required. Try to understand. This is for all of us."

If the confrontation ended here, that would've been swell. But it didn't. Silver squeezed at his torso, ramming his back against the wall. "then why is it tearing everybody apart"

The question left him speechless for a second. "What? What do you mean?!"

In response, his former student repeated the painful action, over and over. He wasn't sure what would give way first - him, or the wall. "your crummy initiative is driving wedges between families" Silver was seething, 1 barely managing to catch the words, "families that were perfectly fine until you came in and ruined it"

There's no way. Sure, he'd heard mention of 77 and 99 lamenting over one of their characters refusing to come home, but 1 had figured that it was some sort of private drama. Then again, it was only after the Gathering that anything like this occurred at all.

Was… Silver right about this? Did 1 inadvertently cause friction towards those he'd sworn to watch over?

He just realized that Silver had stopped, panting. 1 honestly couldn't believe his body held out, and pretty well at that. It was probably the armor.

"I CANNOT STOP THINKING ABOUT HOW MANY OF THEM WANT TO RUN AWAY" 1 saw when he was able to focus. Silver was crying. It's been years. "RUN AWAY FROM THEIR DAVES, WHO WERE ALWAYS CARING AND NURTURING"

It was wise to take his word for it. It might've even been the true reason Silver moved out. Why his own entourage allegedly wanted nothing to do with THRIVE itself. 1 gingerly rested his hands on Silver's. The metallic giant's desperation was almost too much. "I'm sorry, Silver. I had no idea. I really didn't."

"PLEASE" His former student begged, "PLEASE CALL THIS OFF, IT IS NOT WORTH IT"

Oh, God. 1 really, really didn't want to have to do this. If he refused, Silver would start pummeling him again. Denied might come back. Chaos would ensue.

So, 1 pretended to think it over, then gave him an agonized nod of defeat. "Okay. Fine. I will. We can tell them together, and figure out something else. If you want to, that is."

Once he processed the words, 1 heard Silver choke back a malformed sob, pulling him into an embrace, collapsing to his knees in relief. 1 held him in return. "THANK GOD, I WAS SO CLOSE TO THINKING YOU WERE TOO FAR GONE"

That only happened to unchecked Daves. 1 knew what he was doing. Well, if he ignored the tragic side-effects Silver just mentioned… But, he couldn't. Even so, as he said before, it was too late. There was not a single thing that could be done to stop the coup.

"Never, Silver, never. Not in a million years. I'm not going anywhere. Now then, let's head out." The metallic giant released him, letting him start his trek back to the atrium, then started to follow. But before he could leave the stage, he was stopped by a chain on his arm.

"DAVE" Then a second, on the other. "DAVE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING" A third and fourth, around his torso. "DAVE, NO, STOP IT, PLEASE" All of them yanked him down to his knees again. A pause. "you are a filthy liar, dave"

In order to do this, 1 raised his arms only as much as was needed. He almost couldn't face Silver. The tears he was able to repress earlier only broke through his dam once his former student wrote those last words. The only reason he knew what they were, was due to hearing the letters; each had a slightly different typing sound, of which he'd long ago memorized. In any case, Silver was correct.

Yet, he forced himself to look him in the eyes. "My apology was truthful. But we're in far too deep to quit now. Strobovski's leadership ends today. And you will stay here until this is done." He was doing whatever he could to sound collected and stern, but it wasn't working, no matter how much CPU he put into it.

But all he got in reply was a rambling stream of hostile verbiage and shrieks, of rage and sorrow, disdain and anguish. Several repeats of "i hate you"s, followed by "when i get out of here, you are dead meat dave", then "i will find you and i will end you", and lastly, "you cannot outrun the silver death".

By that point, 1 didn't regard him with any further response, leaving him behind and drying his face. Any longer, and he would've shattered.

"Yeah, I have no idea what that was all about," Denied sighed and said, after taking a swig of his water bottle, "But I think I broke it up."

"Gosh, I hope so," 119 remained concerned, bass guitar trembling in his hands as he squeezed it, in spite of the strap. Not long before, Denied had learned which game he was from - Fun Algebra Class. "I never thought things could get this bad, you know? I'd always assumed, well…" He paused, sheepish. "This is going to sound ridiculous, but…"

"Nah, go for it. I'm not gonna judge ya."

"1 just seemed so… On top of everything. Like he always knew what to do. And that his faculty and students were all… Hm. In-tune with each other? … No pun intended."

The merman snorted, lightly. "Perfect Dave?"

"Not exactly 'perfect', because that's not possible. More like… 'Ultimate Dave'."

"Ohhh. Yeah, yeah I getcha."

"But I suppose, even the 'Ultimate Dave' has his share of problems."

"That's actually kind of relieving," 2 piped up, next to them. Another Fun Algebra Class. Who was also on bass. "There's no way in heck I could ever live up to that guy, no sir."

"Hey, don't think like that!" 77 added, tsking. He had a keytar. "It doesn't matter when we came here, what game we're from, or even what we can or can't do! We may be a bunch of Daves, but we're also not, at the same time!" The others thought about this.

"So we are, but we aren't?" 119 asked.

"That's right!" Okay, no lie, shit was getting weird for Denied fast.

"Is he going to come back? It's almost time…" 99 lowered himself to speak to them, upside down. In response, 77 tried to push him back up.

"Ha ha, I know, right?!" He fretted, "But 1 will be real sore with you if he finds you out of place! Move it, please!" 88 retrieved 99, dragging him back by the legs.

"Sorry, so sorry!" He was uttering, "He misses you already…"

"And I will for every moment we're apart…!" The merman didn't realize 99 could be so dramatic. Then again, under the circumstances, 77 was the only one of their trio to not be in the soldier section. He had tried, but failed to meet the requirements, winding up in the orchestra instead.

And 46, a fellow House, put him through the wringer for it. "What if Tristan was in danger, huh?! What would you do then?! Run away?! I can't even look at you! You're an embarrassment to House Daves!"

As a result, the two didn't get along.

"If you're not too busy, would you mind making sure they don't… Um." 77 couldn't finish his question, but the merman understood.

"I'll keep my eyes peeled, dude." It would've been hard, since they all had matching armor sets. But apparently, the helm was able to display each of their numbers, like it was some kind of interface. It was honestly pretty cool.

"Thank you, Denied. I really appreciate it."

At last, they noticed 1 fly out, floating in front of the assembled army. As fast as he could, Denied zipped back to his spot, where the soldiers were. The time was just three seconds after 9:32 AM. Only barely late.

"Apologies for the delay. Is everyone prepared?" The first Dave asked his crowd, but it felt like a formality. Denied only hoped that 1 and Silver worked things out.

All who were able to, along with the merman, gave a salute. "Sir, yes sir!" The words almost reverberated. How many bystanders heard it, Denied preferred not to know.

"Then, it is time," 1 nodded. He turned, now to lead them. "As rehearsed! Orchestra, begin Song One! Forward, march! To Infinity School!"

"To Infinity School!" They echoed. The soldiers equipped their helms, lowering the eye protectors. The orchestra began playing the music. Down the streets they went, on their planned route. Denied did his best to not glance at passerbys, keeping his movements to a minimum.

From what little he did see, however, plenty were stunned by the sight. He overheard questions, some curious, while others more rude, but both were ignored. The Human players were especially losing their shit, but instantly pinned this as a "secret event".

Oh, if only it were as staged as they thought.

What he couldn't help but notice, was the overall shift in perspective. It was one he'd never seen before. Now that he thought about it, this might be how Billy saw things, a lot of the time - from the sky.

… He would be so disappointed in him, if he saw his brother like this. His whole family, too. Dad warned him not to, but he didn't listen. Rather than put an end to the fighting, Denied had only become another cog in 1's machine. Mutinous. Would they disown him? And even if they never found out, he wouldn't be able to forgive himself.

In any case, the merman had failed his mission. 1 was never going to reconcile with Viktor. Why did he think it was ever going to work? All he could hope for now, was that this would lead to a compromise. Maybe they just have to get it out of their system. That happens, right? … It probably won't.

But at this point, there was nothing he could do, except follow orders.

Within a few minutes, their destination was reached. Denied halted with the others, taking in a breath through his nose, as quietly as possible. Just across the road, Viktor's domain sat as always. Best case scenario, Viktor will roll over, and the unspeakable is prevented. But worst case… This whole area will become a patch of ruins, a fresh scar as a result of war.

The song ended. The merman watched as 1 tabbed to his megaphone. Of course, he had a speech prepared. "Viktor Strobovski! I, Dave #1, am here to end your abhorrent reign of tyranny! Do the right thing, and come out to surrender! It's time you resign! Now… Your move. It better be a wise one." He paused. "As for the rest of you, if you wish to not be involved, I advise you to vacate the premises immediately. For if your leader chooses to refuse my terms, I won't hesitate to use violence!"

He lowered the item to his side, waiting. Denied couldn't believe it - characters began pouring out of the building like their lives depended on it, fleeing through the gates as fast as they could. It was as if they knew that Viktor wasn't going to bend to 1's will so easily. Or they just didn't want to risk sticking around. Or both.

Once the situation calmed, nothing else occurred. 1 spoke more. "Not going to show your Tarwill face to your old friend? After all the trouble I went through to get here? Unbelievable. I don't appreciate that." He put the megaphone away, bringing his hands atop each other, like trying to slip them through a crack in a wall. Then, with visible strain, he parted them, but slowly.

The very next thing all of them saw - and the merman was unable to suppress his complete shock - was the outside walls of Infinity School folding in on itself, revealing its innards to 1 and his army.

The megaphone returned. "Have you forgotten the sheer magnitude of my influence?!"

From a nearby rooftop, Alex looked on, pleasantly surprised. So that's what that cyborg doofus was cooking up. How fun! A shame that the demon would only ruin it if he joined in, alas…

He hummed in thought, pulling out a chair he swiped off of some jackass, seating himself in it. He supposed he could take a break, and watch the carnage unfold. Oh, if only the Webspace was always like this! This was far more interesting than whatever bullshit it tries to tout!

A shame he didn't have any snacks. But, he accepted it; beggars can't be choosers.

With all the folks he could sense, Alex found the merman. It would've been nice, truly, to hunt him on his own, but when the demon really thought about it… Why do it himself, when someone just might for him? And if the perpetrator regrets it, he'll gladly take the fall. Consider it a generous offering!

So sit back, relax, and let the fun begin! Who cares which team wins? They'll all lose to him, in the end.

Billy was in utter disbelief. It couldn't be possible. It shouldn't be possible. How? Why? What was he supposed to do, or say? Would it matter? Was it even feasible to comprehend the very notion laid out in front of him? In front of Erie? In front of the both of them?

There were so many, at every which way. No expense was spared. The least he knew was that this, no doubt, was going to be vastly stacked against them. Who knew how long this would last, they had thought. Probably a while, they had concluded.

And would their combined might be enough to overcome the challenge?!

After what felt like a painstakingly long silence, Billy found something to say.

"That took a lot less time than I thought it would." Barely an hour.

Erie, next to him, broke from his sentence, wheezing in laughter. "I know, right?! We're, like, stupidly good at this! Years of memories, just like that!"

"And they're all in here! Where they should be!" Billy was pointing at his temple. "At the exact chronological spot! Down to the day! The hour! The minute!" He paused, briefly scanning through a sample of them. "And the best part?"

"Yeah?!"

"It really does feel like they're my own!" Erie pumped the air with her fists, while Billy reached into the back of his top, disconnecting the USB from the port, replacing it with its protective cover.

In the midst of their shared excitement, a ringtone went off. Erie let out a small grunt as she pulled out her phone. "Sorry about this. It's Viktor. Can I just…?"

"Oh no, of course! I'll be right outside." He turned and left, after seeing her grateful smile.

She answered the call. "Yeah? … Well, that depends. Why is everyone screaming, I can barely hear you. Is it Alex again?" Billy was hoping to not eavesdrop, but the name made him listen in. No, he tried to tell himself, it's not his responsibility any longer. They can handle it. They can handle it…

"He has a what?! How the fuck?! … That many?! Oh my God. See, this is what I was talking about!" The well-made robot was growing more concerned by the minute. "The bunker?! Don't put him there! That was his old laboratory, dumbass! … Look, I'll be right over, but I can't promise I'll be able to save your-"

Erie cut herself off, as a horrendously ugly sound of building materials tearing apart managed to seep through the phone speaker. It made her drop it on the floor in surprise. She must've picked it up, because it was in her hand when she exited the room, nearly tripping over him on her way down the hall.

"Shit-! Sorry, Billy," She apologized softly, but didn't stop. Her voice raised. "Alice! Come here! Security cams! I-Gate, 1, 2, 3!"

Upon the large, wide-screen television of the living room, the sight before the three of them was hard to believe. Their threat wasn't Alex, but 1.

And his army of Daves. Green Alien Monitors. Gotta Sleeps. A few Cells. Upon many, many other faculty-related folks from the game's series. All of them were in a full suit of armor (except for 1 himself, who was missing a helm), no doubt to protect them from what's to come next.

As for Infinity School, it looked like someone cut open the front side of the walls, and rolled them to the side. Surprisingly, there were far less characters within than normal.

Just by a rough estimation alone, Viktor's side was vastly outnumbered.

A once-buried instinct kicked in, the need to protect the populace. One after another, he awoke his vessels, from the storage floor of his lab, B4. They sprinted toward the elevator shaft, a pair holding the doors open, then a second for the other side. Billy after Billy flew out, reaching the surface. A fifth stayed behind, as the rest made haste out of the house. It will total out to 99, as always.

Back at Erie and Alice's, he snapped a screenshot of two of the three camera feeds with his ocular lenses. Then he uttered, automatically, "I'm going with you. If I don't, he will lose."

"Can you fly me?" Erie didn't oppose, as though she drew the same conclusion.

"Affirmative."

Home. "Billy? What in the world is going on?!" Dave had wheeled in, overhearing the organized chaos that was the well-made robot's departing cavalry. Promptly, Billy faced him, sending the photos to Dave's DMs. No time to crop them.

"It's 1. It would take too long to explain, so please look at your messages." Perturbed, Dave did, then covered his mouth in horror.

"Good lord…" He took a moment to process it. "… And I don't suppose Viktor and his friends would be able to tell the difference between a Dave who's on their side, and one who's not."

Billy didn't want to agree, but he wasn't wrong. "I… Wouldn't take that chance."

His partner deselected his phone, approaching and taking Billy's hands in his own. He was staring at them, in thought. "Billy." He mustered the will to look up into his eyes, face stern.

"Don't hurt them, okay? I may not care for them much, but I also don't condone their suffering," He paused. "Maybe it's because they were so lucky, and I resented that - gave myself any excuse to avoid them. I don't know what went wrong with me, but all was right in their worlds. I'd bet my bottom dollar that they've never experienced loss. And they shouldn't ever have to."

"You were jealous of them? Similar to how you were of me?" The questions were meant to be sincere, and not accusatory, but Dave winced anyway.

"... Yes," It sounded like it took a lot for him to admit that. "That's probably it."

"Well," The well-made robot held Dave's hands in return, tenderly. "To be fair, I didn't give you a very good impression of them. It's something that can be worked on." It took a moment, but Dave began to remember what he meant, his expression growing bittersweet.

"They're more than 'cordial'. They're kind. And they might just have a lot on their minds. When it all comes down to it, I'm the outlier."

"That's not a bad thing." At the statement, Dave huffed in laughter, reaching to cup Billy's face. He used to be warm, but not anymore. He has yet to explain what happened, but Billy wasn't sure how to broach the topic. He let his partner bring him into a kiss, returning it without hesitation.

Once he pulled back, he didn't let go just yet, keeping their faces centimeters apart. In a whisper, Dave said, "Sorry, I'm holding you up. Anyway… Their hands aren't guarded. One dart will do."

Truthfully, Billy hadn't noticed, but when he glanced at the screenshot in question and zoomed in, it was just as Dave claimed. What an unfortunate oversight.

With a grin, he replied in turn, "That was the idea. One dart."

Dave released him, chuckling a second time. "Not two. Not three. Not four. One!" With a nod, the well-made robot turned away to leave. This vessel will be late, but it mattered not.

Chapter Text

Angell🪷 (@VLANGELLICA)
Viktor, this is hopeless.
You need to talk him down.

1 read the message as, at long last, he began to see the undisguised Tarwill exit Infinity School. He was joined by Tiara, Marzia, Angell, every single Laura remaining, and a menagerie of other characters who didn't evacuate.

It was still a sorry sight, the first Dave knew. He practically had Viktor in the palm of his hand. He only had to say those magic words, and all this would go away.

From afar, he could hear a reply from Tiara, faint as it was due to distance. "No, he ought to be reprimanded for this. Doesn't matter what he's done for us, he's being a dick."

"We can't hope to beat him, though. Not like this." Marzia was refuting.

"What, think I can't solo a bunch of them? They'll never get past me."

"Dear," Viktor cut in, taking his wife by the hand. "Angell's right. I have to negotiate." Reluctantly, she nodded, watching with the others as he separated from them. So far, so good. His voice rose, more audible. "1. It's me you want, isn't it? Can't we talk about this? Privately?"

"And put the fucking walls back…" One of the misc characters spouted, immediately being hushed to silence. 1 ignored this.

"On the contrary," He replied, "Your surrender is my desire. And whatever we say to each other, should be heard by all."

Viktor groaned. "I'm not stepping down, that's bullshit. Who would- Who would even run the Webspace?"

A beat of silence. Then, 25 piped up. "Oh! I nominate 1! I mean, he always tries to keep level-headed! And he knows how this place works better than all of us combined!" Following that, more voices from his side added their two cents.

"Yes! And he thinks so many things through!"
"Even when under pressure, he doesn't falter!"
"I'd be more than happy to give him a chance!"

It appeared that the kerfuffle with Silver earlier was water under the bridge to his fellow Daves. Perhaps they too have had their share of… Disagreements. Though, 1 hoped that his former student would come around with enough time.

He could see Strobovski visibly wilting. He shrugged with a smirk, and it hid the temptation to laugh. "Well, there you have it. I would take over."

He was met with other excuses - he wasn't a people person this, isn't there a less violent solution that. Viktor used to be introverted himself, so people can adjust to change. Also, he cheats at games. His army gasped at that. The public sway was deeply in his favor, and the longer this dragged on, the less appealing the Tarwill became in their eyes.

Although this had started as his mission alone, it was becoming theirs, as well. Actually, 1 believed, this was a happy accident.

But they'd be here all day if a conclusion wasn't made. "Enough. Accept my terms, or suffer the consequences."

Viktor pondered this. Then, he stepped back, toward his small entourage. "You know my answer." He gestured for them to prepare to fight.

"I assume you're aware of what may happen to your… Friends," He continued, as their weapons were drawn. Angell was making sure her pistol had ample ammunition. "If you're going down this road, let me be the first to warn them, in case it's not clear." The Lauras turned into her Evil form. Tiara was cracking all four of her knuckles. "It will be gruesome. You could die for this guy. Are you prepared to follow him to the end?"

The Tarwill was trying to scare them, and for some, it was working. But none fled, even as a few clearly wanted to. Finally, 1 heard a huff from 46, who pulled out his sledgehammer. "What do you think all that training was for?! There's way more of us than there are of them! Let's show them how we take out the trash! Who's with me?!"

Like magic, it helped settle most of them down, arming themselves in turn - wrenches, screwdrivers, hammers, rayguns (a hallmark of Future Daves), even a baseball bat. 1 could feel admiration welling up - it was amazing, how they were able to pull each other together when it mattered most.

"It seems that they are." The first Dave then acknowledged. Strobovski appeared solemn, then equipped his axe. Strangely, he didn't elevate his PURPOSE; UNITE to COALESCE. It honestly would've given his ragtag team the upper hand, as it made them able to cooperate with far more poise than normal.

Huh. So while facing certain doom, Viktor was refusing to act with full power. Interesting.

"Then… We will not yield." Say no more. Promptly, 1 selected his own weapon, which was a screwdriver. By itself, it was rather mundane. But then, it glowed a radiant orange, and became a backsword with a flick of the wrist. It was deft, elegant.

NURTURE. To THRIVE.

"Orchestra, begin Song Two," He spoke to them. Donning his helm and lowering the eye protector, he pointed his blade at the cluster that was his opposition. His next statement was the signal to attack. "En garde, Viktor."

The fiasco of minutes before hadn't left Dave's mind. Billy would be fine, sure, but what was happening at this moment was still a really big deal. And to think, of all outcomes, Dave managed to not be part of 1's awful machinations. Who knows what that ingrate's been telling the others about Viktor…

He still wasn't certain if he wanted to remember the Gathering. If that's even possible.

Dave, you need a distraction, his inner voice chimed in. Not exactly to forget, but to keep it together.

Yes, but what to do?

His answer came when he noticed the splashes of green amongst the purple… Well, everything. The plants. Hm. That could work. While Dave never considered himself much of a green thumb, being given a bonsai all that time ago allowed him some practice. He recalled giving her a name - Petunia.

With a small grin of nostalgia, Dave wheeled off to get the watering can.

It actually didn't take very long. Though, he only touched upon the ones inside the house. There was still Billy's side garden. Once he got to know him back then, Dave had wondered why the interest in flora. But he didn't have a concrete reason, only "It feels nice to have them".

Regardless, watering can in his lap, he exited. Just as he reached the closest bed of flowers, he took a glance toward the boardwalk, and

His tool fell right out of his hands, clattering noisily onto the grass, water spilling in the process. But as if sensing that was coming, he dove out of his wheelchair, lying face-first on the ground. And at the same time, kicked it over. After waiting a few moments, he silently crawled over to the gates, lifting himself high enough to peer over them. He was only seeing things due to stress, right

Oh, God. Nope. He was still there, standing across the road. Not looking Dave's way, but there nonetheless.

A. A Baldi.

"Alright, this has to be the place. Now, where would've he gone…" He was muttering to himself, as though thinking carefully. What did he mean by that? Who was he searching for?

Admittedly, this was not how Dave imagined meeting Professor Baldimore. However, didn't Dia say he arrived here with one? But this guy didn't match his appearance. There were little details that gave that away - attached limbs and fingers, unwidened hems, and if Dave could see his eyes, they probably wouldn't be blue.

At the present moment, he didn't know whether he should keep hiding, or say hello. Baldi seemed to be on some kind of mission. Would he be able to help in some way? It's something else to do, at least; there's already been enough rain to keep these plants happy.

Let's do it, his inner voice encouraged. So, as quietly as possible, Dave re-seated himself, watering can stashed away in his inventory. Putting on his best acting skills, he gave a bright smile and called out to him. "Oh, hey there! You seem new around these parts!"

Good lord that was bad. Baldi turned to face him, which exposed his black eyes. His tone and expression was completely different from what Dave noticed just moments ago. "Oh, hi! I sure am! Say, have you seen another me anywhere? I've been trying to find him!"

Another? Maybe the one Dia met? Could it be?! No, Dave, don't lose focus! Stick with it! "I don't think so! In fact, you're the only Professor Baldi I've ever met!"

"Is that so…? Well, thank you anyway! I need to go and keep looking! Good-byeeee!"

"Wait!" Dave spoke without thinking, just as the professor was about to sprint away. "Maybe… Maybe I can help?"

"... Oh! I couldn't possibly! I don't want to trouble anyone!"

Hang on. Dave got an idea. "Well, it's just that you might get lost? I don't know how long you've been here, but the Webspace is very large! And, you're famous here! If someone saw you…" He trailed off.

"I see! So I must be in the right place after all! But don't worry, I can handle anything!"

"Sorry, I don't mean to say you can't! Uh…" Dave, where are you going with this? Oh no, are you going to- "Would you like to come inside?" What're you doing?!

Surprisingly, Baldi thought about it. "Well… If you insist!" That actually worked?!

"Ah! One second, then! I'll meet you at the front door!" Okay, Dave. You just invited Baldi Baldimore into Billy's house; don't screw this up! His internal voice was begging, as he let his guest inside. Once the door was shut, Dave did everything he could to hold composure, then turned to face the professor.

Maybe… Offer something to eat? While originally Billy didn't keep anything related to food around, exceptions were made once Dave began staying with him. "Can I get you anything? Tea? Cookies?" He almost said apples, but that felt too out there.

Well, unless it was a pie, but he didn't have any.

"That's very kind of you! But I'm perfectly fine!" A tinge of… Something, behind those words, but Dave couldn't pin it down. He ignored it.

"Ah, okay! Then…" He struggled to add more to the sentence. Why was this so difficult? Luckily, the other filled the silence for him.

"Oh wow! This world has Plus code!"

"Huh?"

"Plus code!" Baldi repeated, matter-of-factly, "Baldi's Basics Plus! That's the game I'm from!" A Plus Baldi! "In fact, it seems that there's a whole bunch of yous who used it! 'Dave's Dream', if I'm not mistaken."

He. Really knew his fangames. But more importantly… "Oh, where are my manners?! … Though, I suppose you already knew my name."

"That's alright!" The professor waved it off lightly.

"Come to think of it, I'm remembering something," Dave then added, "About that other Baldi you're looking for. Would he happen to be from Classic?" Dia's was; were these two acquainted?

His guest's eyes lit up in interest. "He is!"

"I see! Well…" Dave pulled up some pictures he'd saved on his phone, and showed him. "Does he look like this? These are from other people who claimed to-"

"That's him," Baldi interrupted suddenly, much more quietly. His face was blank. "He's here. Or, has been here. I wonder…" He snapped his fingers. Immediately after, a bright red clipboard appeared in his hand. Again his expression changed, first to bewilderment, then to a smirk.

"Ohhhh my FUCKING God!" And completely broke character. He was talking to the object, as if it were some long-lost relic. "You don't know how much I've missed you…! Ha ha, finding him will be a cinch now!"

On one hand, Dave was truly happy for him. But the abrupt change in demeanor gave him a different impression - Alex too had pretended to be looking for someone. And then killed them.

There was no way that Dave would allow the same fate. "That's great! But, if I may ask… Why exactly are you looking for him?"

Baldi quickly looked back at him. It was like he'd forgotten Dave was there. Then, at last, he replied. "... Shit. Uh." A nothing answer.

"Is… Something the matter?" Dave carefully asked.

"Oookay," His guest (intruder?) heaved a breath. "Full disclosure. I hate acting. But around you guys, it was expected of me. Because you're right; I have a lot to live up to. Honestly, I'm barely even a Baldi at all."

Barely?! What did that mean?!

"But the one I'm here for?" He kept going, "Now he's the real deal. Look, you're not gonna believe me, but some asshole decided it would be fun to go, 'Baldi! Won't you come meet me? Baldi, I want to see you! Baldi, I'm such a big fan!', on loop, in our heads. Strangely enough, by the time I finally got here, I didn't hear it anymore." He was mocking the statements.

Someone called out to him? Dia talked about that too.

"I'm thinking that Baldi fell for it a bit too easily. But I'm gonna take him back home, where he belongs. The long and short of it is, if he's gone forever? You could say we're Basically, Fucked!" He paused, then realized something else. "You can swear here? No filter?! No bullshit?! Incredible…" He had a short laugh.

Dave was growing conflicted. It was adding up, but he couldn't help but be wary. Still, his guest continued, "Anyway, sorry for the confusion. For distinction, he's Baldi. But where we come from, I've been called Plus. Nice to meet you, Dave 82." He gave a smirk, and finally an offer for a handshake.

His name was one thing, but his exact number?! After all, it'd taken months for Dave to be able to distinguish others! With memorization!

"... How do you know that?" He couldn't help but question, in a tone that was distinctively more unsettled. Plus' eyebrow rose in confusion.

"It's what your C-sharp file is labeled," He sounded like he couldn't believe he had to explain this. As if it should've been obvious. Dave didn't understand. "Hm. Here, I'll show you." He pulled back his arm to use the clipboard, and without any trouble, finished and displayed it for him.

It was a list. A list of Daves.

DAVE_81.CS
DAVE_81.OBJ
DAVE_82.CS
DAVE_82.OBJ
DAVE_83.CS
DAVE_83.OBJ

"And in case you're curious," His guest added, when Dave was done, "The one with 'OBJ' is for your model. Very different. And while I could just take a look through the site's files to find out what I need to know, it's not enough to locate someone… Which is where this comes in handy!" He gestured with the clipboard, a big grin on his face.

It was kind of… Off-putting, that he seemed to have such a level of intuitive control. Looking up files? Browsing the Webspace's inner workings? How did he do that? Could anyone else do it, too? Could… Dave?

Shamefully, he'd nearly forgotten what everyone around here really was.

"Anyway… Aha! He's still here! I must say, even if it weren't for our names being different, whoever decided to go by this numbering system thought this through. No coding conflicts to be had." Coding conflicts?! So many questions, but no time to inquire. "Now, where's he hiding… 'Infinity School - Secret Bunker'? Where the Hell is that?"

Is that really where he's been? Locked up like some criminal?! It didn't make any sense! But then something else ran through Dave's mind - the THRIVE attack.

"Oh, ha ha, it's probably not a good idea to go there right now. It's… Currently under siege." In hopes of scaring Plus out of it, Dave showed him the screenshots Billy took.

"Wow," He wasn't taking it seriously. "Look, not to be rude, but that's actually the perfect time. They won't notice me zipping in and out. And if they try and stop me? Their mistake. I don't care what I have to do; I'm not leaving without Baldi." Very ominous. "Also, thanks! Now I know what to look for! I best get going. Good-byeeee, Dave!"

Without a moment to process everything, Plus bolted out of the house, and was gone within seconds. But all the while, Dave's internal voice was yelling: Dave, you fool! You utter buffoon! Why did you let him see that?!

An all-out brawl between Viktor and THRIVE could be seen from where Billy and Erie were. From their vantage point in the air, they went unnoticed as they neared. His vessels were in formation.

When the time was right, Erie yelled, "Throw me!" Wordlessly, Billy did, the librarian careening into the fray with absolute elegance.

She landed, a few meters from Viktor, covering his back. "Erie! Finally! What took you so damn long?!"

"If it makes you feel any better, I brought a friend!" The Tarwill faced her with a look of dismay.

"Don't tell me-!" Before he could finish his sentence, a wave of tranquilizer darts poured from above, but mysteriously, only targeting their enemies'... Hands? Countless Daves and others fell unconscious within seconds. Viktor glanced skyward. "Oh my God."

"You'll thank me later!" Erie just smirked.

A dart hit 46, but for whatever reason, he wasn't stopped. He snuck up on the flock until he was above them. He sent his sledgehammer crashing down on as many Billys as he could come into contact with. "Cheater!"

Those that were hit fell, but weren't compromised, instead focusing on the Gotta Sleeps and anything else that couldn't be downed by the intended means. One broke formation, focusing on 46. "How're you-?"

He did his best to dodge, trying to aim. He managed to catch the THRIVE member's weapon, both trying to seize control of the situation.

Which left 46's hands in plain sight.

A short cry was released upon getting hit with a second dart. And finally, he started to drift off. From this high up, not even the armor would prevent injury, so Billy lowered him to the ground. The well-made robot sighed. "Sorry, Dave. This one needed two."

Second wave. It rained down, just as effective as the previous. THRIVE's forces were diminishing fast. A third should do it.

1 paused in his fight briefly as the tranq sailed his way. In a split-second, he'd sliced it cleanly in half. The problem became apparent as he found its source. A factor he didn't account for - the odds of Billy helping Viktor were next to none, and yet…

Time to put that merman to use.

Dave🪛 (@THRIVE_Initiative_1)
(Billy has come to interfere. Take care of it.)

Denied slipped away from his target, upon seeing the message. He already knew he was here, judging from how he got to see 88 and 99 both get knocked out. But this order… It was the worst. He had really counted on never having to face Billy, and yet, he was left with no other option. Worst of all, Denied knew how to stop him.

The emergency shutdown protocol.

It was intended for if Alex possessed Billy's selves on a massive scale. Voice-activated, in Lithuanian. Only Billy's family, Sam, Viktor, and Dave could perform it. Finally, no one but the person who initiated it is able to undo it, and it completely overrides the usual method of awakening Billy.

None of them would've ever thought it'd be used in a case like this. Such a horrendous breach of trust. Did he have a deathwish? Wouldn't it be better if he just betrayed 1 now? Why was he too scared to? Either way…

Without realizing it, he was already meters away from the nearest Billy, as he managed to deactivate a Gotta Sleep. "Hey! Billy! Stop!" He heard, turning to him. Horror set in on his face. Like facing his worst fear.

But that probably wasn't far from the truth.

"No…" He was stuttering, mimicking a voice crack. "Denied… Not you." As if he'd already come to this conclusion prior, but refused to believe it. And yet, still attempting to. As there was no point in trying to hide his identity, Denied unequipped the helm.

"I'm sorry. But this is for everyone's own good." The merman's words were uttered without a semblance of conviction. Hollow. Expected.

"I don't want to fight you," Billy was shaking his head, stepping back. "I won't…!" Even now, he cared for this treacherous creature, that yesterday, was his own brother. Adopted, but it didn't change anything.

"Then leave! That's all you have to do!" Emotion was flooding back. Desperation. Hoping to avoid the alternative.

Another headshake, but this time, the well-made robot stood more firmly. Neither were backing down; this was the reality. "... I cannot allow that. And I'm certain you know why."

"Even after everything Viktor put you through?!" A garbage attempt of convincing him, even he knew it. "How he used you?! How he threw you away the moment you slipped up?! And how your life immediately got better right after?! That's not a coincidence!" Tears were peeking through his eyes. "Billy… We can't keep letting him get away with it. Please… Try to understand."

Billy took a short while to think this over. Perhaps he was even looking through memories, reminding himself of how it'd made him feel back then.

"I do," At last, he answered, "His mistake with me was accepting my offer of surveillance. His mistake with Dave was goading someone into a mission when he didn't want to be involved. His mistakes with Alex and Aldurra were failing to deal with them in a more timely manner, be it elimination or freedom. But if I recall correctly, he's yet to do anything to you. What's your motivation?"

It was true. Sure, he'd asked him to look out for Billy that one time, but no one saw Alex's interception coming. It just so happened that things went to shit. Though, why was Viktor keeping Baldi captive? He should know how possession works! But then again, if 1 wins… He will find him.

Oh Hell no.

"I want things to change." Not a lie. But also not the whole truth. He couldn't bring himself to elaborate.

"You are not alone. But even so, this is not the way," Billy's voice was soft, cautiously walking forward and extending his hand. "'Please come back. We can stop this together.'" A language that, at the moment, only they knew. But it just reminded Denied of… It.

He would've loved to take his offer, to hold him, to cry on his shoulder, to apologize, then fight as a team against THRIVE. It'd be so awesome. And maybe the merman would be forgiven for his awful transgression. That is, if the well-made robot decided to take his chances, because what could just as easily occur is him simply tranqing him too to be on the safe side. And Denied wouldn't blame him.

But he had a sinking feeling that they were being watched, or at least listened to. Denied already managed to bear witness to what the first Dave was capable of. All it'd take was a silent, swift blade through the skull.

Billy would lose his fucking shit. Denial, panic, anguish, then unbridled rage. He'd charge at 1 with everything he had, but 1 would tear him apart, one body at a time, like he was nothing.

Denied, from the bottom of his heart, could not let that play out.

"Then, you leave me no choice." The shift in expression was immediate; back to fear. The hand retracted, defensively.

"Denied, no…!"

"I'll wake you up when it's all over, okay? I promise." The merman forced a shaky grin. A shallow bit of assurance, but more importantly, a warning.

Billy caught on. Never in Denied's life had he seen him so scared. Of him. As if he was going to do something worse than what was implied. Denied would never, he'd defend to the end.

"PLEASE don't say it-!" His turn to sound desperate. Begging. Pleading.

"'Please stand by.'" But Denied stopped hesitating. The phrase worked flawlessly. The Windows 7 shutdown chime sounded, almost inaudible through the noise of everything around them. Billy would've fallen if not for the merman, who reached for and caught him.

But he couldn't stop the rain of the well-made robots, most compared to being thrown with sheer aggression. Friends and foes alike were pelted by them, yelling out in shock and surprise. But for THRIVE, soon enough, it switched into relief. They had a chance again.

Thanks to that outsider, Denied Cellar.

As soon as he'd tenderly laid down his brother, he felt something pierce through his torso. Followed by more, and more, and more. Bullets. Angell's silver shells. He wasn't sure if it burned, or if it was just that painful.

Why did it feel like his armor didn't exist? How was this possible?

He belted out the loudest shriek of agony in his entire life, only pausing when the rounds ceased at last. He was barely able to think, removing the non-protective equipment. Just as he thought. There were so many holes. So many holes. So many holes…

The pain was overwhelming. Next to Billy, he collapsed, passing out.

With whatever little remained of 1's armed forces, they overturned their plight of minutes ago. Quickly, all that was left of their opposition was a handful.

Separated from them, Viktor fought 1. Just as planned. Without his pals, the Tarwill was bound to go down. He will give him credit, though - at least he's actually trying. Even if… Modestly.

A shame, really. He'd been hoping for the both of them to do their worst - which was stronger, COALESCE or THRIVE? A very exciting question indeed, but Viktor obviously wasn't willing to help answer. It was almost making 1 feel guilty, for not paying him the same respect of withholding his own elevation.

Almost.

A skillful swing later, and the axe was disarmed. And before Viktor could grab it again with the extension of his arm, 1 used the opening. Off went his head, and the attached Tarwill flesh retreated into the mask. From midair, 1 caught it.

Tabbing away his weapon, he instead used something else. A little invention he liked to call, the Tarwill Container. It was a round, sturdy bubble, colored a translucent orange, and the size of a soccer ball. It'll prevent him from reforming.

Once stored, 1 met up with the others, who stared upon the item with a variety of emotions. "Your leader… Is no more."

Predictably, those from the Tarwill's side reacted negatively. But one by one, they fell to him as well, in the same way Viktor had. Even so, it didn't mean that they weren't challenging.

Erie, roughly twice his size, could pluck him from the air, toss him around like a toy, stomp on him, dent his armor, even read his mind to guess his next move. However, the second he was able to focus, she was done for.

Tiara, engulfed in rage - as 1 noted from the markings on her mask - was especially ruthless. Exactly what he'd wanted out of her husband. Though, she had one fatal flaw: He didn't need his arms to summon and use his weapon. From within all four of her hands, she too was dealt with, her mask joining Viktor's in the container.

The Lauras used her punishment tactics, from boiling pots to flaming stakes. She couldn't pin him down, and each suffered in the end.

Eventually, there was only Marzia, one Laura, and Angell left. The protagonist's bullets were ineffective - titanium beats silver. To this non-threat, he sated her with a few backswords to the torso. She struggled to move or aim, coughing deeply. As always, she was stubborn to a fault. Normally, it was an amicable trait, one he himself had, but in this instance, it was more annoying.

Laura stopped the language teacher from charging, before shedding her Evil form. A wordless conversation took place, 1 bet. Laura stepped forward, and bent the knee.

"As head teacher of Infinity School," She compelled herself to utter, "In Viktor's stead… We surrender."

From inside the helm, the first Dave smiled. Victory, at long last.

While Alex had been thoroughly entertained by these developments, he couldn't help but notice a distraction. A new presence? Quite the strong sort, easily toppling the merman's. In fact, it was nearly identical to the demon's own.

Now there's a worthy opponent to take.

It had headed to the boardwalk, straight from the Webspace's entrance tunnel. The newbie was in quite the hurry, until it stopped by Billy's house. The only other thing in there was some misty weirdo. Is that well-made place haunted?!

Now, the newcomer left the purple nightmare behind, zipping around in search for… Something, Alex guessed. Who knows? But for the moment, curiosity piqued, he wanted to see that grainy thing!

And then find that fast as fuck guy. All in due time.

A loud thud made the house rumble, easily catching Dave's attention. What… What now?

"Hell-ooooo!" Alex. Oh no. "This is the pol-LEECE! Whoever the Hell is committing this B & E better get the FUCK out here now!" The last, exaggerated statement left Dave's head feeling fuzzy. Why did he suddenly get the urge to meet up with him? "I have you surrounded! Come out with your hands up!"

Dave obeyed without question. At the front entrance (or what was left of it), stood the demon himself. He had a look of frustration on his face. "Ugh, God. It's just you? Damn. You know, I thought you died or something! Has anyone ever told you that you feel really weird? Are you, like, a phantom? Spooky!"

… Dave. Dave! Wake UP!

His senses returned, wondering how he got here. Then noticed the utter disarray of the walls behind Alex. Did he just… Slice them down? The cuts were too clean to have been anyone else.

"That aside, I heard there was someone new in town!" He was talking. "Someone with unprecedented power! I want to find and challenge him to a battle to the death! Winner takes all! But since you ain't six feet under yet… I can spare a bit of time. And fix that."

Dave only focused on that open threat, ignoring whatever else the demon went on about. Somehow, he wasn't afraid. And, while the plan was to have Billy involved in a situation like this, it couldn't be helped.

Dave hastily filled his inventory with his toolbox's contents, things that would apply, anyway. "No. That isn't going to happen. You've been nothing but a menace to everybody living here, and I think you've overstayed your welcome." Prepared, he selected his wrench. "If one of us is going, then it'll be you."

The demon responded with an impish expression. "Uh oh. I'm shaking in my boots." The sarcasm was obvious. "Well, I can appreciate you being raring to go for an amazing fight, but that's not what I had in mind."

Dave gripped his weapon tight. "I frankly don't care what you want! You don't get to just show up and make demands!" Alex stepped forward, getting closer to him. Dave raised his wrench in defense.

"Actually, yes I can," His voice was lowered. "Hit yourself in the face."

Pain flooded Dave's mind from the blow of solid metal. No noise was uttered, but he did hear Alex guffaw, loudly in fact. "Holy shit! Comedy gold! I can't- I can't breathe! Oh, oh FUCK, that was great! I should do that all the time!"

Dave's focus began to clear, but a lingering ache remained. How did… No. Wait. Alex made him do it. That's what's going on.

"Okay, alright. I've had my fun. No more fucking around. Time for business!" As he put a stop to his laughing, the demon grabbed Dave's wrists into one hand, so tightly that if he had actual bones, they'd be fracturing. Alex didn't stop there, dragging him right out of his wheelchair. "Come along, Dave! I have somewhere special I want us to be!"

Dave struggled the entire way. Down the halls, in Billy's lab elevator, until the two had reached the floor containing all of his partner's vessels. The room itself was massive, just as well considering how many he had. He'd been in here roughly a handful of times, but never for long.

Why here? Alex had to be setting himself up for failure.

"So, about those… 'Demands' you mentioned," The demon started again, as he threw Dave out in front of him, into the aisle between the rows upon rows of deactivated Billys. "Do you still doubt me?" After a rough landing, Dave took the opportunity to reach for the closest vessel he could find, taking him by his left hand and

"Hey. Rude little motherfucker. Look at me when I am speaking to you," Immediately he stopped, doing as he was told. Alex appeared insulted. "Yeah, that's right. Don't do anything else until I tell you to." He paused with a sigh.

"Anyway, so there's a whole bunch of this hunk of junk out at Viktor's, but what do you know? His dumbass brother was there, said some bullshit, and they all just dropped like flies! What an exciting twist that was! It left me on the edge of my seat!"

Wait. "Said some bullshit"? Dave recognized it at once - the emergency shutdown protocol. But why would Denied…? The merman had a lot of explaining to do, assuming that Alex wasn't lying. But he was pretty specific about something he shouldn't have known about, so he might not be. Regardless, there was a more pressing issue at hand.

"They'll probably be ripped apart by the rest of that 'first Dave's army in due time. As for you?" No. Dave wanted to stop listening. He wished he couldn't hear, just this once. Or was able to resist whatever Alex was going to force him to do next. But he couldn't.

"I want you to finish the job. Burn this whole place to the ground, and let the embers consume you." An item Dave had left in his toolbox was brought out - a lighter. A small flame flickered into existence.

A tiny voice was screaming within his mind, but it was hard to decipher. Despite this, Dave carried out the task given to him. There wasn't much in the room that was very flammable, but he wasn't hindered.

The tint of the place became quite a bit warmer. So orange, so bright, so vibrant. The fire danced as it grew, crackling, then roaring. Finally, he lay on his back, waiting. The temperature was rising, smoke thickening and trying to find an exit to float out of.

The heat of the inferno was nearing him. He closed his eyes. He was ready.

Dave. Please… Please! Snap out of it! You can't give up now! Are you really just going to let that wicked jerk make you burn to ashes like this?!

He could finally understand what that voice was saying. It sounded like him.

Do you have any idea how long it'll take to regenerate your body? What that'll be like? By then, people will think you're dead! Now for the love of God, GET UP!

Dave re-opened his eyes, greeted by the visage of ravaging flames and nearly suffocating smoke. The sprinklers had set off, but were ineffective. What in the world…?! Why was Billy's lab on fire? His bodies were burning away to nothing!

Alex again, claimed his inner voice. Ugh. So that was it. He was so twisted. When Dave gets his hands on him…!

First, though, he had to get out of here. But not without Billy. He had to assume the worst, or risk losing him. He rolled onto his stomach, crawling to the least affected vessel in the room. The demon was gone, thankfully, but he didn't let it distract him.

Waking Billy up wasn't going to be possible, but Dave urged himself to try anyway. Forming the hand gesture on the well-made robot's left hand, Dave waited. Nothing happened. His heart sank.

All he could hope for was carrying him into the elevator, despite the obvious circumstances. But he wasn't sure if he'd be able to make it in time.

You never know until you try, came another coaxing, internal nudge. And so, he did, bringing Billy down from his standing position and keeping him on his back. The air was insufferable, and taking a breath of any kind punished him for it. At least he didn't need to.

It was profoundly grating, the process. However, he managed. There was an overwhelming feeling of relief as he made it to the front entrance again, finding his wheelchair untouched. He let Billy go, in order to settle into it. Then he turned, bringing him into his arms.

"Alright," Dave murmured to his partner, despite the fact he couldn't hear, "Let's get you somewhere safer. And…" A glare rooted on his face. "I won't let Alex get away with this."

Chapter Text

Denied awoke, to nothing in particular. Then, just as he got his bearings, the spikes of pain returned, paralyzing him for a good moment. Honestly, he wasn't sure how he was still alive, but just as quickly noticed that he may not have much time left.

With whatever he had, he lifted his head, trying to push himself to a stand, but wobbled and fell. All he could see was what was in front of him - a mess of bodies, friend and foe alike.

The first Dave had claimed victory, it seemed. The few folks who remained from Viktor's side noticed Denied crawling over. Laura and Marzia appeared weary, defeated, while Angell didn't have enough fight in her to finish him off. The merman was sure she didn't always have swords in her body…

Was. That from retaliation?

1, as well as the handful of his army, turned to him. One of them attempted to go and help, but was stopped. "No. Allow me."

Alone, 1 floated over, pulling up his helm's eye protectors. From inside, his eyes were glowing like a pair of backlights, his irises a vibrant orange. His words were merely observational. "You survived."

"B… Barely…" The merman failed to stifle a cough. "I donno… How much longer I can…"

1 stared in silence. Then, he uttered a single word. "Good."

He began to leave, back to the others. "What? Did I hear ya right…? 'Good'? As in… 'It's good that you're about to fuckin' die'?!"

"That is correct." He didn't stutter.

Denied's hand curled into a fist, emitting a low growl. How dare he dismiss him like that. "Y-You son of a bitch…! You woulda lost if not for me! I burned e-every Goddamn bridge for you! All just so we could stop. Fighting!"

1 faced him again. But his eyes had an air of contempt. "I know." Swiftly, he approached a second time, knelt down, then roughly pulled the merman off the grass by the pendant. "So long as this was outside your inventory, I could hear every. Last. Word, that fell out of your traitorous mouth. I'm not worried about Aldurra talking; he's definitely the type to take secrets to his grave. But you? I hoped that you'd already be gone by now."

Oh, shit. It was so obvious.

"If you had any sense, you would've realized how pointless it was," 1 continued, "That the only way to truly stop THRIVE would've been through assassination. You were more than strong enough to pull it off, and if the roles were reversed? One thing's for sure… I wouldn't have let anything stop me."

The paranoia on this asshole was off the charts. Who knows what other scenarios he prepped for.

"Regardless of your blatant cowardice," 1 begrudgingly admitted, "It's true that you dealt with an unforeseen threat. But it's not enough for me to forgive you. You want to live so badly? Save yourself, you invertebrate, pathetic waste of space." With those closing words, the first Dave abruptly dropped him, Denied plummeting to the ground with a short yelp.

It was harder this time, but he managed to watch as 1 left him behind. The other members of THRIVE were hard to read, but were, at least, noticeably shaken up by the revelations that took place. And soon, their leader departed, for Infinity School itself. While the merman hoped that he wouldn't find Baldi (If he was there to begin with, he just realized), there was something more important to deal with.

Writhing over to the nearest Billy, he selected his phone, reaching his DMs with him. He spoke his messages. He knew he was practically hanging on by a thread, but…

As soon as he was done, Denied blacked out.

Billy awoke, focus not yet intact. The bootup process was like that. Around him, he could hear voices - people talking, in hushed volumes. Soon, however, he was able to sit up, scanning the area. Oh God, that's right, he remembered quickly. Where was that merman. Billy had some choice words for him.

But he was nowhere to be seen. Even after managing to wake up only half of the selves he brought along (due to crash damage, he surmised), Denied was… Absent. As were anyone fighting on Viktor's side. The only ones still here were various Daves and their faculty members, each of which no longer wore their helms.

It really was over. Everything was. Everything…

"Do we repair him, too?" One of them was asking another, higher in octave than the usual.

"I don't see why not. 56 is already tending to Mrs. Erie…" Regular-sounding. Billy glanced over, seeing the two Daves only meters away. One was carrying a downed vessel. No. Out of the question.

"Please set me down." He spoke as he maneuvered around the unconscious bodies to reach them. They heard, facing him. Shaking, the one holding it slowly did as was commanded.

"O-Of course! I'm sorry!" The high-pitched Dave apologized; a Sky High Adventure, if Billy recalled correctly. Upon closer inspection, there was another oddity. Neither wore their THRIVE pendants. Earlier they had, but not anymore.

"Could either of you tell me where Denied is?" And, due to their meekness, he had to be mindful of his attitude.

"119 took him somewhere, and he was pretty confident about it," The normal-voiced Dave answered, trying to stay calm. This one was harder to determine, but his somewhat different model appearance made Billy suspect that he might've been from House. "But… We don't know where, exactly. All he told us was something along the lines of, 'The potions will help!'." Potions? Help?

"Ah, yes! That's right!" Sky High Dave nodded, "He did say that! But you know, I didn't think he was an alchemist… Or any of us, for that matter."

Potions. Potions. It felt familiar. A memory surfaced, where Erie was demonstrating how ARM was going to work. The moment she used was about her and Candice. About showing her a new

It clicked. "Candice. He took him to Candice." It silenced the two Daves. "Thank you for the information. I'll take care of my selves. Goodbye." Right as he said those words, he picked it up, the rest doing the same, except for one, who took off to the fairy's school.

"Just- Don't be too hard on him! He's in no condition to talk!" Warned House Dave. That was worrying, but he didn't falter.

The first of his active vessels reached his home, finding that not only was a portion of the front end's walls sliced off (with large pieces all over the lawn), he couldn't activate any of his spares. Any… But one. He found himself in Dave's attic, for whatever reason. Why here? Was he home? He called for him, but got no answer. The place was empty, as he left with the lock of the doors.

However, back at his house, the cause of the malfunction was quickly found out. A rampaging fire was set from in his lab, and by this point, it had wafted deep into the ground floor. It took an indescribable amount of effort to put it out, but what was left was lost, blackened to charcoal, unrecognizable.

It was exactly how he was feeling at the moment. He may as well demolish the whole thing and start over from scratch. But that will be tended to later. Instead, he opened his DMs. Dave had to be alright. He had to be.

There was a notification, but it wasn't from him, so he'll get to that next. First…

Well-Made_Account🧤 (@BILLYLĖ) [11:08 AM]
Dave? Where are you? I can't find you anywhere! Are you alright?
Please respond.

The Billy that departed Dave's house went to search for him. While waiting for a reply, he tabbed over to the

It was from Denied.

MediterraneanWaves🦈 (@DENIEDCELLAR) [10:57 AM]
hey, billy. ill cut to the chase. im sorry. i know i fucked up, but. thisll be the last time
i aint gonna ask for forgiveness, cause i sure as hell dont deserve it
whatever you do, dont be like me
anyway. 'youre all clear to proceed'
i love you, broliukas. i always will. take care of yourself, wont you?

Tears formed in his eyes. He unleashed the loudest yell he could muster. He wouldn't be surprised if it was uttered by every vessel.

The one that sped to Candice's barrelled into the building, ignoring the doors flying into the foyer in his wake. The robot's tears were impeding his vision, stubbornly trying to clear it.

"Oh no! An intruder just broke in! It was whoever screamed just now! This can't be happening…!" Dave- no, Dave 119 - whimpered from afar.

"Damn, what an entrance, decimating the doors like that," A tough-sounding feminine voice replied, more annoyed than anything else. "Okay, lemme at 'em. I'm sure I can handle it. Any piece of shit willing to kick a fish while he's down-"

"No," Aldurra. "It's Billy. You guys stay here." He could feel the weight of the demon's steps, as he made his way over. It won't matter if Billy stood still or not, he will be found.

By the time Aldurra entered the room, Billy was armed with- no, not darts. Not shotgun. Not rifle. Missiles. His four eyes peered at it, then back at him. Oddly enough, he was composed. "Don't do this. Put it away. You'll only blow up the both of us."

"Where is he. Where is he where is he whERE IS HE WHERE IS HE," The well-made robot marched, aiming up at his target. "TELL ME RIGHT NOW OR SO HELP ME I WILL-" The demon's hand gripped the barrel, pointing it to the ceiling. Billy's tone became a snarl. "RELEASE ME AT ONCE I SWEAR TO GOD I AM NOT FUCKING AROUND."

With little effort, Aldurra lifted him off the floor with his other hand, at eye-level. "Put it away, Billy." The demon was more stern. Billy struggled under his grasp. "Listen, I know what it's like. But you need to calm down."

"YOU CANNOT POSSIBLY COMPREHEND THE SITUATION."

"Oh, like the whole reason I came here in the first place?"

"THAT IS NOT THE SAME. THAT IS NOT THE FUCKING SAME."

"Sure it is! You're all bent out of shape because someone hurt your family. And you want to make sure they're okay. I've been there." Billy stopped. "I worried and mourned for a long time. I managed to get parts of mine back. And I know you will, too." He was stunned to silence, pondering it.

"Oh my God. It is the same…" Was all the well-made robot could say, now at an inside voice level. Solemnly, he brought back his hand, as he realized what he'd just tried to do. Why… Why did he threaten him? It made no sense.

"Damn right," Aldurra replied, "Now, when I set you down, you gotta be rational. Got it?"

"Yes." He answered, almost on instinct.

"Good." Billy was lowered, but able to keep balanced as Aldurra let go of him.

"… Thank you," He said, softly, "And, my apologies."

"Meh, forget about it," Aldurra waved it off. "Anyway, Denied's in limbo right now." Limbo?! "If you promise not to lose your shit again and start attacking everyone, I'll take you to him."

"I promise."

"And tell him to fix the fucking doors!" The feminine voice from before added.

"Olivia wants you to fix the doors."

"The fucking doors!"

"Don't worry, I can hear her," The well-made robot assured, looking back, hiding his shameful face as he dried it. "… He's. Stable. Right?"

"Candice gave him one of her potions, but he has to get up on his own. Like I said: Limbo." If that's the case…

"Very well. This should only take a minute," Billy then nodded, going towards the doorway. His voice lowered. "'I'm so sorry, big brother. I'll be there soon. Please wait for me.'"

He checked his DMs with Dave again. No reply. Sent, not read. Where was he…?

"Shit. That really did take a minute." Aldurra pointed out once Billy was done. The well-made robot allowed a small grin at the supposed compliment.

"I like to be efficient." He followed when Aldurra beckoned and walked off, his steps far less heavy than moments ago. Perhaps he'd been trying to be intimidating, and even in Billy's previous state, it sort of worked.

The two passed the foyer, adorned in terracotta tiles, light sea green painted walls, and an open ceiling, the skylights outlining a… Oh. A cross. Perhaps it was always like that. Surrounding it were four hanging plants, leaves and vines draping.

Past that, was a looping hallway of sandstone floor and pale wood paneling, centered around an indoor greenhouse, but it was better described as "bringing the outside, inside". He couldn't help but wonder why he'd never visited this place before. It was all so serene and full of flora. Hopefully he'll be able to amend this in the future.

Each door labelled a resident. However, Aldurra stopped at the one for Miss Dolly - one of the few who could not come back, Billy had heard.

Aldurra knocked on the door. His accompanying statement was… Cheery. "I'm back!"

"Is everything okay now?" 119 was the one to reply, with a tinge of concern.

"Yeah, no biggie. We're cool now. He wants to see him, is all," Just in case it wasn't already clear… Then, suddenly, the demon turned to him. "You're cool, right?"

It put Billy on the spot, body stiffening. "Y-Yes. I'm fine."

A chuckle. "C'mon, relax. Just grilling you a bit." He went back. "Alright, we're coming in."

Now, Billy had to wonder, when did Aldurra get so… He settled with "patient". Even recently, he was at least more defensive, quicker to get annoyed. But somehow, not today, even though he would've had every reason to.

This thought left his mind the second he entered the room. It was quite clearly remodeled into a medical patient's dwelling, but in a well-informed, elegant manner. Primed and prepared for an emergency such as this. Seated were Candice, Olivia, and 119, who was without his armor.

It hurt, more than Billy liked, how he looked just like Dave. But it helped, that his cautious stare reminded him that the two were not the same.

Across from them, in the bed was his brother, covered to his shoulders by a white sheet. He lay unmoving, eyes closed. He's not "dead", Billy had to remind himself, but also not "alive". "Limbo".

Just ahead of Billy, Aldurra pulled up the last chair for him. "Here. I'm going out."

"What for?" At last, the fairy asked.

"Alex is on the move again. He's chasing something," He replied. "Something"… At this time, however, it was the least of Billy's concerns. "If Denied wakes up while I'm gone, tell him that I said he's a crazy blue bastard."

"Affectionate?" Olivia chimed in.

"Affectionate." Aldurra repeated on his way out.

Plus heard a new presence, fast approaching. He turned on his heel, seeing them. Swift, but not as much as he. A character poorly-mixed between man and demon. One arm ending with a scythe, the other a hand. Both legs, segmented and pointed, thundering each step with absolute haste. A grotesque chest cavity with eyes made visible through his torn shirt.

An "Alex", which rang a bell. Was he the same guy that Plus was warned about?

Besides that, he figured that at least one of these fangame residents would be out for his blood. It was either a situation of, "You're old news, so die", or, "You're strong, so I want your power". Regardless, being considered important enough was flattering.

Oh, he would put this idiot in his place. "Never mess with the original"… Ah, yes, that sounded like a decent one-liner. Or maybe something like, "Without me, you'd be nothing". Oooh, that was tempting!

The demon-man slowed to a stop, with a face-splitting grin. "Now, this… This is what I'm fucking talking about! Why weren't you the one who showed up?! What took you so damn long?!" The phrases suggested that he not only met C Baldi, but was the one who called for them to begin with. That motherfucker.

However, as it hasn't even been an hour since Plus found his listing in the populace record, he was absolutely doing fine. Maybe shaken up from the encounter, but he's tough! He'll pull through!

The very next thing he did was have a good look through his opponent's code file. It was unusually lengthy, and by God it was a mess - best described as some amateur copy/pasting random things in an unsorted manner, devoid of structure, pattern, sections, or even comments to explain things. Gross.

He thought of Friend, who was, between them and Player, the expert on stuff like this. Oh, if only Plus could take screenshots. They'd be losing it at the sight of such atrocities.

Yet, the slurry of text somehow worked together, cohesively, delivering an AI entity with stats greatly increased from what was probably the norm. Overpowered, as some may call it.

But, so was he. Except for the sloppily formatted code. Loathe he was to admit, those fuckers at Basically, Games! knew how to keep shit tidy, at the very least.

Still, this Alex was becoming suspicious; the aforementioned file read like one would expect from a person who'd "kill for sport". Regardless, Plus was certain he'd be able to hold his own.

"Oh, hi," So, he teased, face smug, "You're the one who kept making all that noise in my brain! Well, here I am; better late than never, riiight? What do you want, then? An autograph?" He almost broke character to laugh. Fuck, maybe he should've rehearsed this.

"That would be lovely!" In turn, Alex guffawed. "But, I'm afraid I'm after something… More." He pointed at Plus. "You. A form with power as robust as yours? To die for!"

Ah, so it's the latter. Not surprising. Eyebrow quirked, Plus' stance held firm. "I suggest that you be careful with your choice of words! Wouldn't want to make a big mistake, you know!"

"Aw, how cute. I almost don't want it now," Alex bared his teeth. "Almost."

"In that case…" Plus pulled out his ruler, his tone shifting to a darker inflection. "I just want you to know how much time you wasted for me, bringing me all the way here for something as petty as that. Clearly, you don't know how to respect your elders!"

He elevated his PURPOSE, performing a motion resembling drawing a sword from his hip - except it was just his green ruler extending into his trusty yardstick.

Goddamn. It was taking every bit of him to keep composure. It was just so… So cool. The practice had paid off at last!

"Without me, you were nothing. But against me, you'll be nothing! I'm going to DESTROY you, Alex!"

Gripping his weapon tightly with both hands, he moved at top speed, getting the first strike on his opponent. Then the second, then the third. Alex's scythe swung in, but he managed to block. Both weapons pushed against the other, until Plus decided to abruptly pull back, unbalancing the demon. Grabbing on, he tossed him overhead, hard enough to crack open the ground underneath.

Alex charged, trying to disarm Plus, but he dodged the moves, waiting for an opening. With that chest cavity, most physical hits to the torso weren't going to fly. But anywhere else was free game.

Alex's putrid maw opened with a shrill yell that would've hurt anyone's ears. It was the one thing to make Plus flinch for a split second, but it was long enough. His yardstick went flying several dozen meters away. And with the opportunity, the demon was upon him, knocking Plus to the grass and dirt on his back, wanting to rip his polygonal limbs apart and feast on him alive.

The only thing Plus could think of in this predicament was using a different model, switching to the farmer. Immediately he equipped the pitchfork, using it to hold Alex at bay, while kicking at his legs. As soon as he had enough distance, he rotated it, causing Alex to be impaled on the forked end. Another scream was uttered, and yet this abomination kept attempting to slice at him.

He should just launch him into the earth, trap him there, and end this. That's all it'd take.

But instead he froze, the visage all too familiar. In Alex's place was C Baldi, quivering silently in agony, reaching out to him with his weak arms. His own ruler was barely clutched in his hand, as both it and his eyes reverted from green to their natural colors - yellow and blue respectively.

"No, wait… This isn't… You're not… You can't be…" Unable to move, he watched as his Certified duplicate suddenly grinned maniacally, rearing back to hit him with the ruler

Plus overheard a new noise, bringing him back to reality. The sound itself resembled a burst of wind. It was, in actuality, a swarm of pixels, coming at them both at breakneck speed. Within it was a pair of clusters that glowed a vibrant orange. It rammed into- Alex, not C Baldi - who was immediately tossed off of Plus some distance away, unimpaling him in the process. Plus took this chance to despawn the item, and get up to face the third party.

Only, it turned out to be a Dave. No, the same one from earlier. He was floating above the ground somehow. Seemingly paying Plus no mind, a large, also orange wrench appeared in his hand as he announced, "There you are, you vile creature!"

Alex rose again, then snickered. "Huh. Not even fire can kill you. Fine, then I'll just have to do it myself!" Well, shit. If Plus had known, he might've not been so hasty to leave when he did. The demon turned to him. "And don't worry, I'm not gonna forget about you! Stay right where you are."

There it was again, the coaxing tone, but this time with an edge of firmness. Of course C Baldi (who BETTER be okay!) would've fallen under a spell like that. But Plus? One would have to practically bellow it.

Alex went for Dave, trying to slash at him with his scythe, but he was managing to counter and dodge just about everything. And if not, the pixels would simply re-attach.

While this was going on, Plus sprinted away to collect his yardstick, then back again to attack the demon from behind. He saw Dave's eyes, and how they were glowing the same way as before.

Holy shit, he could elevate his PURPOSE? However… He clearly didn't have a lot of practice with it. Dave in this berserker state wasn't going to be in his favor for long. Hoo boy.

The two needed to regroup.

"What the Hell? Why were you able to resist me?!" Alex growled from the insolence. Plus ignored him, changing his model again, this time to the camper. He took out a few bear traps, tossing them somewhere. Then, as soon as he could, he gripped Alex by the throat, launching him right into them. Over the shriek of agony, he picked Dave up next, between the shoulder blades. He took to the air, distancing the both of them from their adversary.

He didn't know where to go, exactly. Some rooftop in the city area should do. Though, he noticed that Dave had turned his assault onto him, hitting and kicking, yelling nonsense and biting his arm. It would've been distracting, but in spite of the obvious effort and strain Dave was exhibiting, none of this hurt at all.

But he was able to, with Alex. Interesting…

He landed at his destination, reverting back to IMPEDE mode. "Dave. Can you hear me? Are you even aware of what you're doing right now?"

No acknowledgement. He sighed, and with his free hand, selected another bear trap, preparing to alter a few of its properties.

M, the Filename2 turned music teacher, came to mind. But Plus shook the thoughts away. Seriously, if he started thinking too hard about these things, he was just going to fall the fuck apart again. This was no time to have a meltdown!

Okay. With a more resolute headspace, his voice fell to a mutter. "Let's see, here… Teeth, false. Inhibit skills, true." Back to a normal volume. "Alright. This might sting a bit. It's nothing personal."

He pried Dave off of him, and he floated there. The moment Plus clamped the bear trap onto one of his legs, Dave froze with a gasp, eyes and wrench returning to normal. He promptly fell, yelping in shock.

"There, that's better," Plus nodded to himself. He took the time to scan through Dave's AI a little more, finding what he was looking for easily. "NURTURE. FLOURISH. That's a new combo."

"What… Where…? I…" Dave gathered himself and sat up. Then, his face grew mortified. He looked to see Plus, and promptly brought up his arms in defense. "Oh, oh gracious! I-…! I tried to hurt you! I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to! Please don't kill me!"

Plus realized that he was still holding his ruler. Whoops. He tabbed it away immediately, as well as going back to his default model. Actually, perhaps it'd be easier to keep focus, if he stopped using the field trip ones entirely.

That sounded promising. No more switching.

"I'm not going to do that," He waited until Dave calmed down to add, "Also, was that your first time using your elevation?"

"My… What? I'm afraid I don't understand."

"You know, your PURPOSE, but on its higher level," It didn't help explain things. Plus "Hmm"ed in thought. "I take it you've never read your own code."

Yup, no idea what he was talking about.

Plus was suddenly punched in the side of the face, so hard that it threw him off the building, landing face up on the other side of the street. Wow. That one hurt. He was groaning as he worked to get up again, murmuring, "Of course it's when my guard is down."

Hah. He'd left a Baldi-shaped indent in the pavement.

"Dave! Thank God, there you are! Are you hurt? What did he do to you?" A new voice, masculine.

"Billy! You're alright! But this is a big misunderstanding! I'm fine!" Billy, then. The two must know each other. Come to think of it, that would explain why Dave was at that purple house…

"But he trapped you! Here, one second." Plus floated upwards, towards the roof.

"Uh… I actually don't know why he did that," He saw the man in teal release Dave from the bear trap. Then, the two hugged, like it'd been years. "But I promise, I'm okay. How're you… Here?"

"It's a long story. I'll tell you later," They pulled away, just as Plus landed. Noticing, Billy stood, shielding Dave. "You…! I don't understand. A blow like that should've knocked you unconscious, at least…"

"I forgive you for underestimating me," He replied, casually dusting himself off. "But rest assured, I'm not your enemy. Originally, I came here to find the other Baldi that's shown up, and take him home." He ignored the look of utter confusion on Billy's face. "However, I've just learned that a deranged idiot was the cause of bringing us both to this place. So now, I want to DESTROY him."

"It's true!" Dave tried again to vouch for him. After giving him a glance, Billy looked back at Plus.

"The 'deranged idiot' you speak of. Is it Alex?"

"You know him?"

"We… Both have a history." The tone was anything but positive.

"… Hm. Still, I'd recommend the both of you to stay out of it," Plus warned, frustration beginning to leak through, "This is some seriously dangerous stuff. Dave over here almost got himself killed, because he has no idea how to control his FLOURISH mode." He saw Dave grow sheepish. "That's what the bear trap was for - to snap him out of it. No offense, but you should leave the PURPOSE elevating to the professionals."

Despite the explanation, Billy turned to and brought Dave upright, supporting him under his arm. His tone was bewildered. "You… Fought Alex?"

"I had to! He made me…! He made me…" Something that Dave was struggling to admit. "Set your lab on fire…" There was a beat of silence. Ah, right. That made sense.

"So that's how it happened…" Billy's face had a dark streak to it, but not aimed at Dave. "Unforgivable."

"As if everything else he's done is…" In turn, Dave was sarcastic.

"That's true." Billy nodded, with a small grin.

Meanwhile, Plus observed the two, figuring out their methods of combat and skills. Both were at least somewhat atypical from their original forms; clearly, alterations were made along the way. Whether or not it was enough to stand against Alex effectively, however, was an entirely different concept.

But chances are, they weren't going to take "no" for an answer. Plus was honestly unsure of how he could go about this, in a way where it doesn't end in disaster.

"Say, uh," Dave piped up, at him, "I know you're new around here, but Alex has been an ongoing issue for a long time. Many of us have had to deal with him at some point. I appreciate you not wanting us to get hurt, but… We're no stranger to his antics, either."

Then that meant that this was indeed the same one. At the very least, it simplified things.

"And yet, he's still alive," He shook his head in disappointment. "Personally, a problem like this should've been nipped in the bud."

Dave opened his mouth, but closed it with a sigh. "I… I don't disagree."

"Listen, if you wish to join me in this endeavor, fine. But it's your funeral," There was no winning this, Plus knew. Neither responded, as he turned away, scanning around his vantage point. "Now, he couldn't have gone too far…" He spotted him. And… "What the fuck. There's two of them?! God, I really got my work cut out for me, huh?"

"Wait, no. That's…!" Billy tried to say, but Plus already flew off. Predictably, however, he was followed. It was a bit difficult to decipher his next words, but he managed. "His name is Aldurra! He's no threat to us! In fact… One could say that we all share a common enemy."

"Ha ha, incredible…" Plus chuckled while listening. "So even other Alexes hate him. Story of my life."

"… I doubt it's for the same reason." Dave added, most likely being carried. Well… Sure, but that didn't change the fact that Plus wasn't exactly considered a friend to the Certified dwellers. More like… A begrudging acquaintance.

These two seemed nice enough, though. But, just how long would they be able to tolerate him was the question.

"Yeah. You're right," He conceded, "Say, if we ever get the chance, maybe we could tell our tales. But I'll warn you: Mine's pretty crazy!"

"Learning about a Professor Baldi's life…" Plus couldn't see, but the tone from Billy allowed him to guess - his eyes were probably lighting up. "I… I will consider it."

"Oh please. Call me Plus!"

Aldurra knew Alex wasn't the culprit. If so, Denied may as well not exist anymore. Which was quite strange, since it would've been the best time for him to strike. Instead, he was distracted by something… Else, out here. Yet another ghost of his past? A new victim? Aldurra bet on the latter.

Whoever it was, they seemed quite strong. But even those could easily fall to someone like Alex.

His opponent sighed dramatically. "This is what I get. You were busy that day, and now I am. But oh well… I'll catch him again. Just gotta take care of you first. For good." The last statement was in a growl. Typical.

Aldurra kept on the attack, from the outskirts of the more populated area. He was so caught up in it that he almost didn't notice

"Oh! Sooner than I thought! He's coming to me! And it looks like he made a few friends too! My, he's social!" Aldurra was shoved aside, but didn't fall. He focused on them.

Billy. Dave (82). And the newbie. All three were flying right for them.

A blur of green passed by quickly, attacking Alex. "Didja miss me?!" That voice was absolutely unmistakable. A Baldi.

Motherfucking Professor Baldimore had entered the fray.

"Oh my God," The demon froze, jaw dropped. Which would've looked appalling. "No way." Now that he thought about it, what was with the glowing yardstick? How was he doing that?!

"I sure did!" Alex was cheeky, retaliating with his expected prowess. "I kinda wish you left that pile o' pixels be and not run away, though! Don't you have any manners?"

"Hey, shut the fuck up! He's nice!" A Baldi who swears? Is this for real?!

Close by, Aldurra heard Billy land, turning to see him and Dave, who brought out and got into his wheelchair. Bemused, the demon pointed over at the fighting OG and worst nemesis and asked, "Y'all seeing this shit? It's not just me, right?"

The other two were unfazed, both retrieving their weapons. Billy was the one to answer. "It is exactly what you think."

"Oh! Oh good! Now, uh," The demon paused. "Do we… Join in? Looks like he might got this handled. And that's really saying something."

"Maybe, but… We can't be too sure," Dave replied this time, "Besides, I think each of us have a bone to pick with him." By proxy, Aldurra guessed.

The three of them heard a new sound in the struggle. Alex managed to catch Baldi's yardstick, throwing him back a few meters - and right into them. The resulting impact made all of them topple down like bowling pins.

"Indeed, you do! This is perfect…" Their enemy butted in, selecting an item that Aldurra couldn't quite recognize. "You're all in one place. This should be fun…!" Using it, everything went black.

"Uh…!" Candice uttered, filled with shock.

"What's up, Princi- Oh," Olivia went to ask, then noticed the sudden change of the room. "Well fuck. How'd he do that?"

"Is Billy… Magic?" 119 inquired, "Or is he so well-made that he can teleport?"

"And leave poor ol' 'didysis broli' behind, after having a freakout just to get in here?" The skeletal goth was shrugging, nonchalantly. "Doesn't really align."

Candice investigated the chair he had used, able to sense a hint of residue. It was producing a dark, dark aura. She picked it up. "Olivia! Go and incinerate it!"

"Isn't that a little extreme…?!" 119 piped up again, in disbelief. Maybe he couldn't feel it from this distance, but if nothing was done, the presence would surely spread. Such things were not permitted here.

Olivia took the chair. "Whoaaa, shit. No, she's got a point. This thing's like, cursed now. Yeah, I'll be back."

"Thank you," The fairy nodded, then saw the look on 119's face. "Don't worry, everything will be okay!" After the morning he's had so far, she didn't have the heart to tell him. How an entity summoned Billy elsewhere.

And that only one person could leave behind a trace that unholy.

Chapter Text

When Aldurra could see again, he found himself placed in a dark, vast room, accompanied by an unsettling ambiance. Noises would echo in here akin to an old cathedral. He… He knew where this was. But how in the Hell did Alex do this?!

He wasn't alone. Nearby was Baldi, who was also taking in the area. Dave was settling back upright. And there were multiples of Billy - some awake, others not.

"… Where are we?" Dave brought up the question that most of them were probably asking themselves. Here goes.

"An Alex's Realm," Aldurra explained, "But that shouldn't be possible. Neither of us have our games out there."

Baldi pulled out a bright red clipboard, looked over it, then found something. "Actually, it is. The code's all right here. In an item called, 'Bundle of Notebooks (20)'. From… His copy." The demon's eyes widened.

"You're telling me he could come here as often as he wanted, this WHOLE TIME?!" It was hard to believe. "Then what took him so long?"

"I imagine it's because it wouldn't have freed him," One of the many Billys speculated. "But I agree. Lately, he's always had the chance to, and yet… Judging from your reaction, he's never… 'Disappeared'?"

"Not even once." Regardless, this wasn't good. Aldurra took out his phone, beginning to DM Olivia.

"I see," Billy acknowledged, then questioned, "Is now the time?"

"It's an SOS," Aldurra was undeterred, "Because getting outta here's gonna be a goddamn chore otherwise. Trust me on this."

DerivativeHellion🌶️ (@Â̶͎L̵̗͑D̴̲͒Ū̷Ṛ̵̎R̴̯͠A̸̙̐) [11:39 AM]
Alex just fucking threw us into his world
Apparently he jacked the notebooks from his game and stuffed it in there
But anyway, you and Scrina have got to get us to safety ASAP

.Olivia.💀 (@OLIVIASKALD) [11:40 AM]
i'm not surprised. i'm on my way.
what level you on? and who is "us"?

DerivativeHellion🌶️ (@Â̶͎L̵̗͑D̴̲͒Ū̷Ṛ̵̎R̴̯͠A̸̙̐) [11:40 AM]
5.
And uh let's see…
Dave 82, a Baldi (!!!), and… A bunch of Billys. Can't count them all

.Olivia.💀 (@OLIVIASKALD) [11:40 AM]
i need exact numbers, chief.

DerivativeHellion🌶️ (@Â̶͎L̵̗͑D̴̲͒Ū̷Ṛ̵̎R̴̯͠A̸̙̐) [11:41 AM]
Fuck. Hang on

"Hey, Billy," Aldurra grunted, "How many of you are in here?"

Surprisingly, Billy hesitated. "This is… Every vessel I have remaining. One hundred. Or fifty, if you're only counting the ones I can currently use." Wait, what? Didn't he have more than that? From the way the demon saw how Dave took the well-made robot's hand, in a combination of comfort and regret, some shit must've gone down.

"Fuck. I'm sorry." Aldurra mused, slightly quieter. Then, he finished his message.

DerivativeHellion🌶️ (@Â̶͎L̵̗͑D̴̲͒Ū̷Ṛ̵̎R̴̯͠A̸̙̐) [11:42 AM]
100 Billys. Half of them are broken

.Olivia.💀 (@OLIVIASKALD) [11:43 AM]
that sounds about right.
while he was fighting for viktor, apparently his house caught on fire.
the rest were destroyed.

Aldurra stared at the text.

DerivativeHellion🌶️ (@Â̶͎L̵̗͑D̴̲͒Ū̷Ṛ̵̎R̴̯͠A̸̙̐) [11:43 AM]
Oh my fucking God
That explains a lot

.Olivia.💀 (@OLIVIASKALD) [11:44 AM]
it really does.
heading to erie's. we'll find you soon. sit tight, and don't die.
candice can only make so many potions at a time you know!

DerivativeHellion🌶️ (@Â̶͎L̵̗͑D̴̲͒Ū̷Ṛ̵̎R̴̯͠A̸̙̐) [11:44 AM]
You got it!

"Okay, help is coming," He told the others, "We just need to stay alive until then."

"If we can snatch the bundle," Baldi then noted, "He won't be able to leave."

"Oh FUCK yeah, let's trap him!" He barely knew what this guy was like, and yet, the demon was finding himself warming up to him.

"Just like in the game!" The professor was smirking. Ah. So he knew how it went. That's even better. Lower in volume, he continued, "I think I like that idea more…"

Nearby, all four of them heard something, turning to its source. From the ceiling, a silhouette of Alex had grabbed one of the damaged Billys, taking it away. Even from the dark, sounds of tearing and ripping echoed through the vast room, along with the sight of parts hitting the ground again. Fabric, skin, a hand, torn metal, wires, an eye. And so on.

"You dumbasses," Alex's voice rang out, "This is not my prison, nor yours. No no no. In fact, it's more accurate to say that this wonderful place of mine will be your tomb. One way or another, most of you have proven to be a thorn in my side." A few more shadows proceeded to do the same act as just moments ago. "I may not be able to eat all of you, but I can still take what actually matters." Aldurra caught Dave holding onto Billy's arm with both of his own.

"And you know what?" Their collective foe continued, "It'll be so much fun. Forget being unstoppable in terms of that Webspace of yours. I think I just might become… Perfect. A 'Perfect Alex'. Who cannot be killed." Still more. If nothing is done soon, Billy really will be stuck at fifty. "Do you understand? It's over. You've lost."

"Attacking from the dark now?" Strangely enough, Baldi was unaffected. "If you're so damn sure, then get your ass down here and prove it!"

Alex laughed. "So bold… I love that. To be frank, I've been fighting them for a looong time. I'm tired! So instead, my shadow clones will do it for me. But you, Baldi. I'm saving you for last. Be grateful."

Dozens of them landed from above, each staring upon the group without a shred of mercy in their soulless, lit up eyes. Of course, their first targets were the remaining, helpless robot bodies. It seemed odd that Billy wasn't trying to salvage them. Perhaps it was a liability.

"Plus… Why the fudge did you do that? You just peeved him off!" Dave called it out. Plus? Was that what Baldi called himself as a nickname? Noted. "Now we're all going to…!"

"Huh. Was really counting on him getting even more pissed than that," The professor shrugged it off. His voice rose, directed at Alex. "But he'd rather be a lazy little bitch!" He got no response. Sad, because he was right. That burned harder than pure silver.

"Then… I suppose there's nothing else we can do," Billy tried to keep his cool, as he had his active selves bring out their bullet barrels, using them in order to face every direction. "Other than to make do with what we have. As limited as it may be."

"Hey. You guys," Finally, Aldurra mentioned, "He thinks that we're the idiots, right? Looks like even he forgot something. I'll give you three guesses on what that is, and the first two don't count." Plus tried to reply, but Aldurra briefly slapped a hand over his mouth. "Shush. Not you. Let them give it a shot."

The other two gave him a look. "Uh…" Was all Billy could utter. One could've heard the bit splat onto the ground. That's disappointing. He wasn't expecting Dave to know, but the well-made robot? Such a shame.

"Okay…" The demon sighed, "He's not the only asshole who can do that." Picking it back up, he grinned coyly. "Check this out."

Just as the last of the damaged Billys became scrap, another hoard of clones emerged, but they were distinctly Aldurra-shaped. It was a struggle, but they began to even the odds, tearing into the opposing side.

"Go! They won't hurt you!" He ordered, going into the fight himself. The chaos and sounds of violence resounded all over, as his impromptu team worked together. Thank fuck Alex's shadows weren't even close to as tough as him. One cut was enough to down them, and it could be implied that almost anything else would do the trick.

He could see Billys flying around, firing rounds that reduced them to swiss cheese. Targets that were farther off were hit with missiles and mini rockets, causing semi-frequent explosions. One Billy remained by Dave's side, covering each other as the latter was able to whack the clones hard enough to send them flying. And when he wasn't using his wrench, he substituted with other tools - such as a hammer, a screwdriver, and, uh… Was that a metal sheet? He really did just use anything, didn't he.

Even a drill, which was plugged into Billy's back somehow.

As for Plus, he wasn't just hitting with his yardstick, but when he did, it was as if it were a sword. But the professor had variety: elbowing behind him, low sweep kicking as a stun, and the demon swore he saw him straight up chokeslam one of them.

Despite this, they were only 53 out of countless shadows, and Aldurra could only do so much with his reinforcements. They simply weren't able to lower their numbers fast enough. From afar, he could tell - the others were starting to falter. Noticing this, Plus erupted from the crowd and into the air. "That's enough! If you're not going to show yourself, I'll have to find you instead!"

Baldis could fly? Just… Just like that? What couldn't they do?

The growing sea of clones was getting overwhelming. Aldurra wasn't sure how much longer he and the rest of them could last. In fact

"DAVE…!" Billy yelled, desperately, "Dave, hold on, I'll-!"

Dave had been split horizontally. But wasn't able to emit anything. It was too painful. The lower half of his body was missing, as the well-made robot was only able to carry the upper part to safety and out of reach, a few more of himself disposing of the shadows that attacked them both.

"B… Billy," Dave rasped, "I…"

"No, don't speak. Save your strength. You're going to be okay." He was trying to assure him with a soft smile. But they knew that it wasn't true. Every one of them could hear it.

From the distractions, Aldurra was hit by one of the clones' scythes, thrown to the ground, and stabbed relentlessly. Fuck, it hurt, to the point where he couldn't fight back.

Was this… How he was going to go out? All this time, he thought for sure that with a little help, his entourage could be avenged. But, for once, as much as the demon didn't want to admit… Maybe Alex was right.

This is their tomb. After everything, it was hopeless. They were all going to

A crash reverberated through the already loud room. Aldurra couldn't decipher what or who it belonged to.

"HOW THE FUCK DID YOU-?! THAT DOES IT. I'LL RIP YOU TO PIECES!" The screech was Alex, but what it meant was lost on Aldurra.

"Just try it!" Plus taunted, sounding unharmed. He may as well be the only one. Flying away helped him greatly, and he… Wait.

He pulled Alex out of hiding. His focus has shifted! This was their chance! Make a comeback!

Aldurra pooled his CPU into dulling the pain, finally managing to reach up and slice his assailant apart. He forced himself to his feet, but not without clutching his abused torso (and not to mention, his tattered vest). It was more clones than allies, that hasn't changed. But from not far away, he saw Plus and Alex fighting again, though this time was keeping their enemy on his toes.

This was just the low point! They can't give up now! They've all come too far to lose like this! So, Aldurra took a breath, and roared in defiance.

And at that moment, a portal opened from the ceiling, a spotlight of brightness casting into the otherwise dreary surroundings. Carried by Scrina, Olivia held her reaper scythe. "Thanks for waiting!" She called, everyone glancing up at her.

"Oh, thank FUCK. Finally!" Aldurra's relief couldn't have been more obvious.

"There's… So many of them!" Scrina spoke her concern. "I think you may have to, well…"

"Then, let's get to it!" The protagonist smirked, gesturing to the ground. Scrina flew her down, just above the floor. With her weapon, Olivia tore the blade into it. "Come on out! He's right here! Go make that sonna bitch pay!"

She was a reaper now, after all. It was her "character arc". But rather than claim souls, she would allow them passage to the living - for revenge's sake.

Such a tactic would've sent the Webspace in a frenzy. Better to be used here than there.

"You know, it's actually kinda funny," She added once over, both ascending back up. "Viktor wanted me to do this back at his school. Had to go over all the reasons why I couldn't. It only works on those with a kill count, I said. They'll only target their killer, I said. Useless against a bunch of Daves, but perfect for someone like Alex."

As if on cue, the new rift in the floor widened. Climbing out of it were tons of characters, all with gray eyes, dulled color schemes, injuries, the whole bit. People Aldurra could recognize, from various fangames. Protagonists, faculty, staff, sides, secrets. Humanoid, supernatural, even robotic.

Such a visualization of just how many folks he hurt and destroyed was almost incomprehensible. They charged into battle, ripping apart every Alex shadow clone they came across, but as expected, ignored Aldurra and his group.

And in that growing mass of zombies, he was able to spot those from his copy. Dolly, Asmodena, Ms. Immortal. A copy of Candice, Olivia, and Scrina. It didn't seem to matter if Alex stole their code; if they died at his hands, it was enough.

He snapped back to reality, but only when he was pulled off the ground by Olivia. It was then he realized he'd shed a few tears, blinking the rest away and drying his face. Still, even like this, it was nice to see them again. One last time.

"Everyone! This way!" The two girls ordered. Soon to appear was Plus, a handful of Billys, with one still holding Dave in his arms.

"No! Get back here! I will not be-!" They heard Alex refute with a guttural tone, beginning to sink under the new wave of adversaries. They weren't revived or real, but were no less capable of brutality. Alex was going to suffer everything he put them through, tenfold… If he survived, that is.

And that made it feel cathartic.

Scrina reached the portal, the other side revealing the Webspace, and Aldurra found it a welcoming reprieve. Though, maybe he wasn't the only one to think so.

Together, they managed to breach through, the abrupt change of carnal direction causing them to land in the grass, with the grace of a pile of ragdolls. As soon as she was able to (and everyone was accounted for), Scrina closed the waypoint.

The silence that greeted them was deafening. Then, it was broken by Plus, who laughed as he got up again. The demon couldn't articulate more at this moment than an unsettled gaze. In response, the professor took out an item. The Bundle of Notebooks.

"Surprise!" He said, as if he was about to give out a present. The absolute madman.

"Holy SHIT!" Aldurra blurted, rising instantly and approaching. "You actually got it!"

"I sure did!" Plus smugly replied. "He was so caught up in swinging at me, that I don't think he even noticed! He was all, 'Oh, I'm gonna kill you!', and I just thought, 'Yoink!'. Ha ha!"

"Damn, that's sick," Olivia noted, not at all affected by the presence of motherfucking Professor "Plus" Baldimore. "I'll be happy if he stays in there for good."

"Should we… Destroy it? Will it erase him, too?" Scrina asked, cautiously.

"Either that, or he'll immediately be released," Towards the little robot, Plus was surprisingly gentle with his refusal. It must come naturally, with how much knowledge he had about his fans' various creations. "I think it'd be best to study this thing better before doing something so hasty."

"Oh! Good point!"

"Any chance I could hold onto it, then?" Aldurra offered. "Don't worry, I won't do anything stupid. If nothing else, I'd seal this thing up and throw away the key."

"Hand over an Alex to another Alex?" He couldn't blame Plus' skepticism.

"That Alex invaded our game, forced us to abandon it, made us lose Aldurra, and just when we could be okay again, showed up and finished the job." Olivia's summary was blunt, to the point, and scarily accurate. Plus glanced at her. "We literally have nothing to gain by breaking him out."

"Hm… Yeah, I thought I saw an Olivia that looked just like you, when the victims came out. Alright, I'm convinced!" He promptly tossed it at Aldurra. "But like I said, just don't destroy it until you know for sure it's safe to."

"Oh, you bet. Maybe we could get Laura to-… Shit, wait. Goddammit." The demon nearly forgot.

"Laura? From Viktor's game? Isn't his school 'under siege' or something like that?"

"Eeyup." Olivia confirmed. Plus tabbed to his clipboard, as if checking something.

"I see. Say, not trying to be insensitive, but I better get going. There's somebody I've been trying to find, and he's over there. But I'll admit, it was nice meeting you guys!" Before he could leave, Billy spoke up at last, making him pause.

"Are you alright?" His voice was soft, and not directed at anyone other than Dave. One of his few selves (Five, Aldurra was able to count) was holding him closely, the rest unable to do anything else.

"I'll. I'll be fine. Just. I just…" It was difficult for Dave to respond. If Aldurra looked closely, he could see pixels at the injury, very slowly rebuilding the lost part of his body. Wait. Was he… Healing?!

"Right, don't worry," Billy didn't notice it. "I'll get you some help. Maybe Candice could-"

"No, I don't think that'll… Be of any use. Billy… I've been meaning to tell you something. It's important, but…" A grunt of pain. "Now's… Not a good time, ha ha… Just…"

Billy was growing worried. "Just. Wait for me, okay? I need to go for a bit and… Rest. But when you see me again… I'll be back to normal."

"I will. I will, Dave. I will…" As Billy brought him closer, Dave's hand held his cheek.

"It's as you said… I'm going to be okay." Whatever kept him from falling to grains of sand let go, and Dave dissipated into a mist. But interestingly, it took off somewhere. The well-made robot turned silent, unmoving, staring at his now empty arms.

"Huh… He did that thing again," Oddly, Plus spoke as though he understood what was going on. "Turn to pixels, resolidify. Pretty fascinating, if you ask me. Look…" His tone changed, more sympathetic. "He was most likely being literal. After all, his model can repair itself. Though, damage this severe will take a while."

"And uh, how do you know that?" Aldurra questioned, unsure if he'd drawn a similar conclusion, or…

"His code details it," The professor was quick to say. Then he added, in exasperation, "… God, don't make me go through this again." Code, like AI? Their files? But how in the world was he able to read theirs?

"I hope you're correct." Billy finally uttered, grief in his tone.

When 1 entered the bunker, he was hit with a wave of nostalgia. It was almost like coming home after a long vacation. Except, it wasn't like that whatsoever. He sighed, wistfully, as memories passed by him. "My old workspace. I wonder what you've done with it in my absence. I do hope it hasn't fallen into disarray."

"Hello? Who's there?" Hm? The first Dave wasn't expecting company. Let alone… Oh dear. Had Strobovski been so cruel as to keep a Professor Baldimore prisoner? The selfish Tarwill bore no limits to his depravity, truly.

"Ah, hey there! Sorry, I didn't realize I wasn't alone. Just a moment, then we can talk face to face." 1 zipped around the halls, until he came across a room, changed into a cell. A prison. And it contained the professor in question. Except… Was he modified? Intriguing.

"… Oh! There you are!" He greeted, the worry prominent as he tried to smile. "My name's Baldi! Though, it seems like everyone here already knows that. But between you and me, I'm getting a little tired of the formalities, ba ha… Anyway, what's yours?"

He has been here nearly two months, as indicated by his Webspace data's creation date. Did Viktor see him as some kind of zoo animal? Disgusting! Thank heavens 1 struck when he did!

"Greetings, Baldi. Technically speaking, my name is Dave. However, since there are many copies of my games, '1' is preferred."

"Dave… Dave?" The professor sounded like he recognized him. "Do you know Dia?"

"No, you're mistaken. Dia belongs to Dave #82," He tried to ignore the disappointment in Baldi's face. "Anyway, while I go unlock the doors, why don't you tell me what brings someone of your stature here? I must say, I am very curious."

As Baldi explained, 1 busied himself in doing just that. Alex possessed him to come here, and was even forced to release him. Granted, this was one of the many questions that the first Dave had held. Regardless, that thoughtless demon was next on his chopping block.

After having Baldi's testimony, the Tarwill decided that keeping him at Infinity School was best. Until Alex was reigned in, and better anti-possession measures were made.

Which was, in 1's opinion, impossible without him.

Another wonder he had was concerning Baldi's AI file. It took up an unusual amount of space. And when he opened it up, he saw a staggering 9,999 lines of code. It was double his own, and he thought he was well-rounded!

The first two lines caught his attention. Both were comments.

PROFESSOR BALDI BALDIMORE

THIS IS AN INTRODUCTORY COMMENT THAT EXPLAINS THE CHARACTER OVERALL. EVERYTHING WILL BE MORE IN-DEPTH FURTHER DOWN. FOR NOW, HERE'S THE BASICS.
(OH HE WOULD LOVE THAT ONE)

VERSION: 1.3.2C
ROLE: EDUTAINMENT GUIDE
GENDER: MALE
BIRTHDAY: JUNE 3RD
FAV SUBJECT: MATH

SPECIAL SKILLS:
- ACUTE HEARING
- SUPER SPEED
- CALCULATION

That was line 1. The very next one below it was the following:

CURRENT VERSION: 1.4.3C
(AS OF 06/18/2019)

(11/21/2018) Hi Baldi! Haha, remember when we thought the 1.3 set was gonna be the last? Good times, man. Good times. Anyway, other than that, I THINK everything else still holds up? If not, lemme know and I'll add to this bit. -Friend

(01/04/2019) Buuuuuuugs. Yeah, nothing to see here. -Friend

(01/05/2019) Oh mah gawd, again? C'mon man I JUST patched the last one! -Friend

(03/20/2019) Did. Did you know. That it's on Android? But we don't get that one! -Friend

(06/18/2019) Player guess what! Big Ol' Boots are real! Confirmed by Basically, Games! Check 'em OUUUT! -Friend

I can't believe I like rubber boots more than candy bars… -Player

I'll keep that in mind for Christmas! -Baldi

Please don't have convos in his code. That's kinda pushing it. -M

Okay, I understand. Just this once! -Baldi

Dude seriously. Just use the thinkgizmo or something. This is gonna hurt as soon as I save this. -M

Only a little; I can take it! Also, it's called the "Think Pad"! -Baldi

Yeah okay I'm cutting you off. Right now. No more code changing shenanigans. Nope. -M

… M, I can see you typing it in. If you want to stop, then stop! Just cancel the whole thing and

WOW! You weren't kidding! That stung! -Baldi

S T O P -M

(06/25/2019) Are y'all okay? -Friend

A new idea began to form, as he skimmed the rest. No. This Baldi wasn't merely a modified Tutor from Classic. He was something else entirely. Something… Unique. And 1 wanted to study every last byte. The future of the Webspace rested on him now, and the possibilities were endless!

"Go home… To be fair, I can see why," He finally responded, as he returned to him, "I too sometimes miss the olden days of having a game and a player. But it gets, how do I put this… Cramped, after a while. But here? I know you'll be able to serve a much greater purpose. And worry not about the likes of Alex, he will be taken care of."

"Thank you, and that's a nice thought. But… I'm serious when I say that I'm needed there."

"Oh, you poor, sweet Summer child," 1's grin only widened, noticing that he was. "You do not understand your relevance. As an expert on machine languages, I have the authority to say that knowing how you tick will help bring about great advancements like never before."

Baldi was distancing himself, expression growing unsettled. "No, that's… No, I refuse. The world's not ready yet. I'm not ready yet. I need to leave."

"With all due respect, Professor, I wasn't asking." 1 reached out to take him by the arm, and Baldi managed to free himself, selecting his ruler.

"And I said no!" Was he really going to do this? Very well. In return, 1 tabbed to his screwdriver.

"We are at an impasse. How about a duel? If you win, you're free to go. But when you lose, you will obey me." From the offer, Baldi gave him a look that resembled indignation. He swapped the weapon for a Batch Of Bananas (3), eating them one by one. Looking into their functionality, it increased the size of the stamina meter by ten pixels each.

Next, he tabbed to another consumable, an Energy-Flavored Zesty Bar, which was also used. Oh, surely, he was going to use every edge he had.

Baldi then sprinted off. A chase it is, then. 1 promptly followed, switching to THRIVE mode.

"Enjoy this moment while you can, Professor! Your inventory is finite! It's only a matter of time!" Keeping up with him was a challenge, unexpectedly enough. But for every single resident here, he will keep pressing on.

He found him again, after looping around a corridor. A BSODA appeared in Baldi's hand, pushing 1 back with its spray. In return, he summoned and telekinetically threw backswords at Baldi's legs, barely missing by a few pixels. He watched carefully for where the professor was going, continuing on the hunt.

Down another hall, 1 brought his hands together, which turned it into a dead-end. Nowhere left to run. "What a valiant effort! But, all in vain."

When he got too close, Baldi brought out yet another item - a pair of Big Ol' Boots. And immediately after deploying it, he was able to pass through him. So long as it was active, he couldn't be grabbed. No matter, for 1 only had to wait. And besides, that was the last thing Baldi could use. Everything else he had was worthless. Once more, he zoomed behind the professor, and caught up.

The Boots wore off. Now was his chance. With a laugh, he brought out more backswords, aiming. Then, saw something. A bright red clipboard. What in the heck could that possibly

From nowhere, 1 heard the event bell sound. Then suddenly, he flopped to the floor, like gravity had increased. Wait. Gravity Chaos. But that was a BB+ thing! Why would someone add that kind of functionality to a Classic?!

Any attempts to rise to the air again failed. And away his target went, slowed, but unhindered. He shot his swords at him again, but they too clattered onto the ground just meters in front of him. Even if 1 were to start crawling, he would never catch up.

The professor has won this round. But not the game.

"Hmph…" He spoke, "I would say that a deal is a deal, but we never agreed to it. So, my advice is to watch your back! I will always know where you are, Baldimore!"

"… Nanites." Billy had echoed.

"That's right…" Dave had confirmed.

From on his attic's worktable, Dave sat next to Billy, only able to stare at his half-reformed legs. The nanites of his home were filling in the gaps, where his own bodily ones could not at the same pace. Each of them altered its colors to match his own, lest he looked like his lower half was entirely red. A hole in the wall was forming, but it too will fix itself with time.

He'd decided that he had to clear the air; he'd owed Billy that for far too long. So, after enduring the realization that he had DMed him earlier (a twist of the knife, really), Dave got back to him.

Dave_Oddity!🧰 (@DAVE_82) [12:27 PM]
I'm sorry, Billy, I only just now saw this. Um…
Right now, I'm home. I'm okay. It doesn't hurt anymore, but I'm… Not back to normal yet.
I know what I said, but you can come over if you want.

And Billy had responded at near light speed.

Well-Made_Account🧤 (@BILLYLĖ) [12:27 PM]
I'm on my way.

Dave_Oddity!🧰 (@DAVE_82) [12:27 PM]
Okay! I'm in the attic.
And… Nevermind the hole in the wall.
I swear, I can explain everything.

Well-Made_Account🧤 (@BILLYLĖ) [12:28 PM]
Good timing or not, you better.

The cold statement wasn't unwarranted. Dave already suspected that he was testing Billy's patience as of late. Honestly, if he had known from the start, things would've gone so much better. Dave could imagine it, vividly.

Most infuriatingly of all, 1 was right. Dave was certain he meant it in a different way, but his words rang true. He should've swallowed his pride, and asked for a second opinion. Billy's opinion.

But he didn't tell him. Leading to all that worry, fear, and grief. And Billy's patience had worn thin.

Dave could hear him sighing deeply, into his hands. "Your house, too. And your brain."

"Yes."

"And it never occurred to you that perhaps it would've been important to mention? At literally any point in time?" The sincerity was absent. This was actual questioning of logic.

"No, I've… I really have been meaning to…"

"And I've been meaning to ask," Billy lowered his hands, looking at the ceiling. "But I suppose neither of us could." Silence hung in the air so heavily, that Dave was being crushed by it.

"I'm sorry." He uttered at last, and frankly there ought to have been more to it. Except he couldn't find the words.

"I know you are," The well-made robot replied, "But I'm not sure what to do. Could I trust you to not do this to me again? Should I?"

It was hard to say. The answer was obvious, sure, but would Billy be happier if… Oh, lord. A knot formed in Dave's throat at the thought.

"I've crossed your line. You're allowed to go… Um. To retaliate."

"That's just the thing; I don't want to do that. I don't want to lose you. I don't want to separate. But I fear this'll happen again."

"I don't either, you know?" Dave struggled to keep his voice steady. "You deserve better, Billy. And I want to prove that I can be that for you. But me having that chance… That's your call to make, not mine. So if you, say… Need time to think it over, I understand."

A part of him wished he hadn't just suggested that. The selfish part of him, that wanted to keep fighting to work this out now. Today. Bring it back to the status quo. But, he reminded himself, that's not how it works - Billy has to decide what's best for himself. Even if it means… That.

They've always said that if you love someone, you'll let them go, his inner voice noted. But what they don't tell them is how painful it'll be.

"Are you… Suggesting we take a break?" He could hear the reluctance in his words.

"Yes. If you're willing. We don't have to, but it might help."

"I-… I don't know if I can handle that…" He made it sound like the world was ending. "On top of everything else today…" Oh, wait. Dave remembered.

"Okay, then let's put a pin on the 'break' part. Please, tell me." He let Billy explain. Denied was able to wake him up again, but was currently "in limbo". Billy's house was basically destroyed. The five vessels he last saw him with are all he has left. And now he had to find out about Dave's secret in the worst way possible?

Well. Now Dave just felt stupid. Moreso than he already had. It was his turn to hide his head in his hands, in order to process the absolute bombshell that was Billy's terrible, terrible morning. "I… I see. Did you, um… At least get those memories back?"

"I think that's the one thing that went right. We were finished in an hour," Was his answer, before adding, "I know it's a lot. But… If you feel that this direction is best, then… I'll try to figure things out."

When he's already hit rock bottom? In spite of what Dave had done, he couldn't push him away, no matter how good for him it might've been. What he needed was support, and darn it, Dave was going to give him that and more.

"No," He finally turned to him, gently taking his hand into both his own. "I know what you mean. But forget what I said. Whatever you're going through, and whatever happens next, I want to face it all, together. I realize that it might get rough, but I will prove myself to you. No more secrets. I promise." He paused. "But… What do you think?"

He felt so tense and uncertain. Billy had options. But when Dave was put into an embrace, the choice was evident. Pulling back, Billy looked him right in the eyes, his voice trying to be stern, but it mixed with other emotions. "No more secrets."

"No more secrets." Dave nodded in absolution, returning his partner's affection deftly.

The entrance tunnel. Oh, at long last. Baldi was heaving; he hadn't stopped or slowed his pace since making it out of the bunker. He took a minute to gather his bearings, listening for anything resembling 1. However, there was nothing of the sort.

When finished, he approached, ready to get out of here for good. Truth be told, he wasn't going to miss this place. And, as he decided for himself, that was nothing to be ashamed of.

Then, he felt himself hit a wall. He staggered back, reaching forward. It was invisible, but it was there. He pressed, knocked, but nothing changed.

What in the world…? The tunnel wasn't one-way, was it? He looked into its programming, and noticed a peculiar string. It mentioned his C-sharp name, and the intent was to not let him pass. He was trapped here.

1 claimed that he was a coding expert. He certainly wasn't a liar.

Frustrated, Baldi's hands balled into fists, before trying to calm down with another breath. Okay, a set back. He was going to need help. But who could he trust in this crazy domain?

"Holy fucking shit! There you are!" He heard his own voice yell, quickly facing it. Another Baldi, but he looked familiar. He opened his counterpart's file and

Plus. It was Plus. Somehow, someway, he'd followed after him. In his hand was an item that looked like a map of some kind. Probably for the Webspace itself.

While this circumstance wasn't exactly ideal, at this point? Baldi would take what he could get.

Chapter Text

From the darkness of night, Dia held his phone at eye-level, as he lay in bed. The backlight was dim, to accommodate not just his eyes, but also his friends'. None of them would've been affected by the brightness, but it might've disrupted their sleep.

He'd really been lucky to be able to share a room with them at the lodge, or at least, he thought so. The reality was, it was an easy suggestion.

Anyway, clock app opened, he watched the second hand tick along, until it hit midnight - April 24th.

"Happy birthday, me." He whispered, resting his arm and mobile device on his chest. Fifteen. In every way except for programming. Having never figured out the birthdate he wanted back then, his age would instead roll over every January 1st. It was so lame, but it was what it was.

It was only last year when he'd decided: April for obvious reasons, and the 24th was a result of a random number generator. And ever since not too long ago, he'd considered being changed to reflect that (somehow?), but lacked the courage to mention it.

Even then, he wouldn't be able to hide what else has been happening. As if fate decided to pull a prank on him, his first growth spurt hit, and soon to follow was his voice, which deepened and cracked a lot more than usual. It turned out that the former was more extreme than a Human's; by the end of the week, he'd grown by 30.5 centimeters, or an entire foot.

Due to this, his clothes were now too short in length. This prompted a hasty trip to a gift shop, and the trio didn't leave until Dia had found something suitable for the time being. At first, he was drawn to an ombre hoodie, fading from a sapling green to a navy blue.

"This is a women's. You sure?" Ruby mentioned, offhandedly.

Dia turned away immediately, trying to hide his face. "Oh. Uh. Nevermind."

He was sure that the red gem watched him walk away. "Was it something I said…?!"

It was easier when he was alone. With no one around to judge. And passerbys most likely wouldn't have known. But Dia wasn't anymore, and his friends would, among other people. And that was… Worrying.

Example being his fellow Diamond Men, who Dia tended to avoid at all costs. They already made their opinions on him clear - a weirdo. Shorter (initially), not blue, "extra shiny" ("What, does he think he's better than us?!"), and brittle ("Diamond, more like Glass! The wind could blow wrong and he'd fall apart!"). Dia was convinced that he wouldn't have survived without Ruby and Gold, and Silver if he wasn't looking after the other minerals.

Wearing this would just be asking for trouble. God, those counterparts of his would clown on him so hard. He'd never hear the end of it.

Or maybe, for this one thing, they wouldn't. But given how they've been with everything else… It was hard to know for sure. Better safe than sorry.

"Yooo, so what's the holdup?" Gold slid in, after about ten more minutes.

"He can't decide between the red and the blue," Ruby replied, gesturing to both items. Then, he noticed something, adding, "Put those back! We're not shopping for you!"

"Then you get some stuff, too. That way, it's fair," Gold retorted. A pause. "Oh c'monnn, dude! Live a little! We're like, on vacation right now!" Ruby sighed, then apparently agreed. "That's the spirit! And Dia?" He felt Gold's heavy arm around his shoulders. "Don't overthink it! Besides, in my opinion, you look better in blue."

"Y-Yeah? You think so?"

"Totally!" At the affirmation, Dia took a breath, then made his decision - the Far Out sweatshirt. Turning to face the soft metal, he finally realized that he was already wearing something. The… Shard Mountain Buffalo tee, accompanied with navy blue shorts.

"Oh shit. That looks great." He mused aloud.

"Isn't it?!" Gold posed. So cool…

"I like these." Ruby added, having just returned to the group. A Smokey Bear tee, and beige shorts. Definitely more plain, but it suited him in every way.

As for Dia, he'd already found the other part of the outfit, cargo pants in a faded green. So now, it seemed that they were all set.

Unlike the Webspace, where general commodities were free (transportation, housing, food, supplies, medical care, and outfits), money was required. So they shoplifted, though Ruby was reluctant about it.

"Yeah, sure." Dia, on the other hand, was nonchalant. It surprised the other two. Well… Let's just say it wasn't his first time committing that.

After the fact came a realization: Dave can't know about this. Dia launched into a whole tangent, that if he did know, then he might think they were bad influences, and never let them hang out with him again, and they were the only ones his age who cared about him, and he'd have no friends, and

"No worries," Gold interrupted, "We got your back."

Dia exhaled, relieved. And that night, they celebrated with (also stolen) snacks and soda, doing karaoke to their favorite songs. None of them were any good at it, but that was part of the experience, or so Gold said. After an attempt on an English cover of "Kyoumen no Nami", they were finally told to shut up from the next room over. Honestly, a while ago, Dia probably would've been rendered damn near catatonic from something like that.

But he just laughed with Gold, while Ruby apologized and promised they would.

"Okay Google," Dia had said into his phone on another day, "'How do you count carats'?" His search results returned with… How to count carrots. Making a face, he cursed under his breath, "Goddammit."

"Try saying it like… 'care ats'?" Ruby suggested.

"Oh, and add 'in jewelry', for good measure." Gold offered.

"Hm… Okay Google, 'how do you count 'care ats' in jewelry'?" He didn't know which part did it, but it worked. "Holy shit! Check it." He read the answer. Basically, measure in milligrams, then divide by 0.2. "But the scale's in pounds! We'll have to change it and shit! Ugh… Okay Google, 'diamond weight calculator'."

It came up as he hoped. Three fields to enter, for length, width, and depth. "Alright, here goes. Measure me!"

There wasn't a way to get the total size (unless he wanted to convert the weight values above, which he didn't feel like doing), so only his head would do. The most closely-related cut he had was the Square Step, so that was used. And since this was the case, inevitably, each value was the same.

He ended up getting a ridiculously high carat weight. 229,052.2. If he were to factor in his entire body, it would've been even higher. And moreso once he's fully grown.

As for the other two, it worked in completely different ways - rubies were done so based on size and density. With the same calculator, Ruby's was even more crazy - 274,077.2.

Seriously, what the FUCK were these numbers. Well, obviously because they weren't sizes or weight fit for a ring or whatever, but still!

Meanwhile, gold was solely in fractions of 24, representing purity within other metals. As Gold was made to be absolutely devoid of anything else, he couldn't exceed the 24/24. Therefore… 24 carats.

Yeah, that one was boring. But at least the three of them learned something.

A short while following that, an accident happened. A tree-climbing contest. Somehow, Dia had beat out both of them, but found himself unsure of how to… Get back down. His friends had started again to help, and as Dia lost his footing and fell, failed to catch him in time.

The impact had spread through one of his legs, resulting in a shatter that reached the middle of his thigh, stunning him momentarily with a gasp. Still, it made him bounce once, the next shockwave striking at the back of his head.

He was lucky that the new cargo pant leg prevented basically all of the shards from escaping somewhere, but it was not so with the other situation. The three had looked for hours, but despite the direct sunlight, which would've given it away, they couldn't find Dia's pyramid tip.

Back at their lodge room's shower area, Dia finally released the closed-up fabric in question, allowing the pieces to spill onto the bathmat, even shaking it a little to make sure none got stuck on the way down. Fuck, there were a lot. It could've been worse, though - a fall like that should've split him in two. But lately, he's been a bit sturdier than usual, and today showed for it. Was… The growing part of it? Could he naturally become less brittle?

Still, what's here was going to take forever. He sighed.

Midway through reassembling the leg, he was joined by Ruby, letting him help. "You doing okay?" He asked.

"Not really. I've never lost a piece of me before. What the Hell am I gonna tell Dave? 'Cause he sure as fuck is gonna notice."

"Hey, c'mon. Don't worry. We'll look again tomorrow. Go digging if we have to. We'll find it!"

"And if we don't?"

"Well… It won't stop him from worrying, but I had this thought. That maybe I could…" Ruby stopped, grasping at his hands. Dia caught on, an uncomfortable feeling rising up.

"No. Dude. Don't. I know yours can just grow back, but… I, uh. I don't wanna end up like Phos. Started with the legs, then the arms, then the head, and… Yeah."

"Oh. I can respect that," Ruby let the idea go, and the two worked in silence for a short while. "How do you feel about what happened to Diamond?" Fuck.

"It's… Pretty mixed," Dia tried to explain, "They inspired me a lot, but then I read the manga and… God, they turned into such a selfish bitch. Part of me really wanted to go back. Like, completely undo everything I had changed. But what Kelly did for me is all I have left of her…"

"That, and you don't have to be like them, either. You can be the Dia you want to be."

"Yeah… And then I look back, and there were signs everywhere. Real fucking foreshadowing, that this was how it was gonna go. It wasn't even out of character. They always felt like this. They were… Enabled just enough to let it get to an extreme."

"But that's hindsight, man. Things we don't notice right away. It's not your fault."

"No, but sometimes it feels like I'm rooting for a piece of shit, and I don't like it." The leg was finished. Thank God he had plenty of resin on him. Considering how tedious it might've been to affix it back on himself, he pulled up the pant leg, letting Ruby do it for him.

The feeling of reattachment was always the hardest part. Like a wave of that one sensation people experience - the "pins and needles" - running all the way down from the impact site to the last opposite ends. Briefly, he was reminded of the look on Billy's face, when he'd put his arm back on, wondering if he'd done it wrong.

"Nope…! That's just… The n-nerves waking up again…" Dia told him, fighting through it as bravely as possible. If not already obvious, this was what made it annoying. Not the 3D jigsaw puzzling, not the necessity of resin, not making sure all the shards were found (usually). This one Goddamn feeling.

"You ready?" Ruby asked, pulling Dia back to the moment. "You can squeeze my hand if you want." The worst he could do was scratch him, but the marks would be gone in minutes. And at first, Dia was dead set on refusing the offer, but then glanced back at the leg. It was gonna be fierce.

"… Yeah, sure, okay," Dia complied, "Go for it." The second it snapped into place, he gripped Ruby so tight that he could only hope he didn't make himself crack. Teeth grit, he growled expletives repeatedly.

Soon, it ended. "You good? Can you stand?" The red gem asked some more. Dia moved the newly re-attached leg a bit, then nodded.

As promised, the trio snuck off the next morning. It seemed like it was going to be fruitless, until…

"Dia?" A familiar voice said, belonging to a Spike, which was odd since he was sure no one else had followed them. But when he saw him, a strong feeling overcame him. He wasn't sure how it was possible, but he was able to recognize him.

His Spike. And he was holding what they were looking for.

"Spike?!" The anime shades-wearing boy caught up to and hugged him.

"Dude! It's you! It's really you! Oh my God!" He was saying, "Finally! We were starting to think, well… That's not important!" "We"? Spike pulled back, finding Dia at nearly eye-level with him. "Also, when the Hell did you get so tall and rugged-sounding?!"

"What do you mean, 'we'?" Dia finally asked, his friends looking on in surprised silence.

"Okay, okay. Get this," Spike smirked, "We all found each other again. The plan's to get back together, find Kelly's computer, and go home!" Wait, what. "Sure, we might have to wait a long time to see her, but we will! And yeah, Dave's gonna be irritating to deal with, but we'll take care of that." Oh God. Dia didn't like the face his old classmate was making.

"Oh. Oh wow? Oh yeah?" He sputtered.

"Alright, is somebody gonna tell him, or am I gonna have to?" Gold spoke up suddenly, once Dia was unable to say anything more.

"Oh shit, sorry! Hi, you must be Dia's friends! Nice to meet you both! Look, as soon as we know the way, you can visit anytime you like. You'll always be able to-"

"No no no no no, not that," Gold interrupted, "Actually, it's a few things. One," He formed a single finger upon the rounded edge of his hand, "Why would anyone wanna go back to a PC? Wouldn't that be, like… Evolving, but backwards?"

"Yeah, we thought that too, in the beginning. Now we're tired of it. Especially once we started losing each other along the way. It… Wasn't fun." Spike glanced at Dia, in a manner that Dia wished he didn't remember.

"Uh huh… Well, two," A second finger, "His Dave's not there anymore, my dude. In fact, he hasn't been in his game since, uh…" Gold struggled to calculate the years. Dia wasn't sure if he should stop him. "A long time."

"Ew, you've met him? I am so sorry. But I guess it helps to know we won't have to worry about that." This wasn't going to go well, Dia knew it.

"Whoa. You didn't just say that," He could hear the offense dripping from the semi-fluid mineral. "Dave 82's great! What's your damage?!" The statements quieted Dia's old classmate.

"Alright, let's settle down," Ruby stepped in, as though ready to restrain the more headstrong Gold if necessary. "There has to be an explanation for this. Maybe he knows something we don't…" Things that they shouldn't have to know about. Because it shouldn't affect how they view him. It was in the past.

"Huh… I don't know if we're talking about the same guy, but my Dave's a total prick," No. Oh no no no. This couldn't be happening. "Passive aggressive. Full of envy. Possessive. Bossy. It was always his way, or the highway. Impossible to be around." Please. Just shut up. "So when we figured out how to go Online, and our player stopped coming back… We ditched him. I wouldn't be surprised if he's still fuming about it now. It's just like him to hold a grudge-"

"Spike. That's… Enough…" Dia tried to say. Spike misread his plea, hugging him again.

"Sorry. Bad memories. I know-" He couldn't help it. Dia pushed him away.

"N-No! You don't know! That's not…! He's…! Not… I…" He wasn't sure what he needed to do about this situation.

"That's… Awful, that you had to deal with that," Ruby carefully replied, unable to resist giving Dia a concerned expression, "But that's not how we've known him? He's always been kind to us…"

"Oh yeah, the best," Gold added with ease, casting doubt on the whole thing, "Responsible, too. As someone who's spent the night countless times? Never regretted it."

Spike stared at them for a minute. Then, to Dia, asked, "Level with me here. Did you… Start crashing at some other Dave's place? Since ours was so shitty?"

Hearing that made Dia want to bash his head against a tree. Is that why he immediately clung to Baldi?! On top of being lonely and lost as Hell?!

"No," Instead, he mustered the willpower to reply, "I've been living in that Webspace place. Laura told me that our Dave was a-already there. And… And…" He trailed off. Ruby and Gold were going to find out. Dia couldn't avoid it any longer.

"Look, I didn't believe i-it either, at first," He managed to continue, "I kept shit to myself. I would lie because it was easier. But he helped me feel better a-about things. I'm out here on this field trip right now thanks to him. I made friends and he likes them! He's shown me that he's… Changed. He's changed, Spike."

To be honest, he wasn't sure if he was convincing Spike, reassuring himself, or… It might've been both. But what mattered was the effort Dave was putting. Dave from years ago would never. Dave today is.

His old classmate handed Dia his pyramid's tip. "I'll be the judge of that. When are you leaving?" So ominous.

"Monday." A few days away.

Back at the lodge, back to now - Monday. Which was also his birthday, albeit self-decided. Dave was going to be in for a surprise. And Dia wasn't sure whether or not it would be the good kind.

In those days, he became overtly passive, not saying or doing much, in order to not draw his former teacher's ire. But Spike grew increasingly protective of him. It never happened, thankfully, but he mentioned on at least a few occasions that he'd be willing to throw hands if it meant knocking Dave down a peg.

Things weren't like that anymore, far from. Dia hoped Spike would be able to see that too, but he knew that it wouldn't be easy, considering how things came to an end. The last few months back in their copy of Fun Algebra Class were easy to recall.

(HEY, DIA. I GOTTA SHOW YOU SOMETHING.)

"I-I don't know if I'm-" Dia quieted when Spike put a hand to his lips.

(USE THE CHAT FEATURE.)

Specifically, the privatized kind.

(I DON'T KNOW IF I'M UP FOR IT. I'M NOT REALLY IN THE MOOD.)

He wished he could at least stop sniffling.

(YOU'LL LOVE IT, TRUST ME!)

To be fair, Spike has never been wrong. Wiping away his tears, Dia left his hiding place, under a classroom teacher's desk, and followed Spike outside. It was night, so the only reflections to appear on the grass were from the moon, displaying a faint, patterned silhouette of Dia's body.

(WATCH THIS!)

Whatever this was leading to, Spike was excited, as he abruptly hopped the fence. Dia nearly panicked, until he noticed that his friend didn't fall.

(HOW ARE YOU… HOW'RE YOU DOING THAT?!)

Spike just smirked, holding out his arms for Dia to take.

(GAME DESIGN FLAWS, DUDE! C'MON, JOIN ME!)

Nervously, Dia complied, and it felt even weirder, being able to see the underside of the skybox.

(… OKAY. DID YOU PULL ME OUT HERE JUST FOR THAT?)

He couldn't help crossing his arms, trying to look unimpressed at his much taller classmate.

(NO NO, OF 7777ING COURSE NOT. WE'RE NOT EVEN THERE YET.)

Once again, Dia walked with him, glancing back every few seconds. Dave couldn't find them like this. He couldn't. Dia already angered him once today, twice would be

(SO, ONE NIGHT, I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS. I DECIDED TO SEE HOW FAR I COULD GO.
REALLY 7777ING FAR, APPARENTLY. EVENTUALLY I GOT TO WHERE THE SCHOOL WAS BARELY VISIBLE.
AND TO SPITE OUR DEAR, SWEET, INNOCENT ALGEBRA TEACHER, I TURNED AROUND AND WENT)

Just as Spike described, he stopped suddenly, faced where they'd come from, and yelled, "DAVE SUCKS EGGS!"

This time, Dia freaked.

(OH MY GOD NO DON'T SAY THAT HE'LL KNOW WE'RE OUT HERE AND OH MY GOD NO HE CAN'T FIND OUT HE CAN'T FIND OUT HE)

"Shhh, chill, it's okay!" Spike pat him on the back, just as he started to hyperventilate. "Sorry, I should've warned you. My point is that: Once we're at least this far away?" He gestured to the school, which now only appeared as a few stray pixels in the midst of the world's expanse. "He can't hear us anymore. We can-" He was cut off by a censor beep. "On him all we want out here."

"Wow…" Dia spoke his awe, once he calmed.

"What's something you've always wanted to tell him?" Many things, really, but Dia wouldn't dare say it to his face. Or while he could listen in. … Which was probably Spike's point.

"Um… 'You're an-'" A beep of his own. "'Dave'?"

"Then shout it like you mean it," It took Dia a few tries, but he eventually got it. "Yeah! You tell him, Dia! You tell him!" Once over, the two sat on the invisible ground. Spike was pointing at Dia's arm. It was cracked at the wrist, almost to the point of shattering, and a few had spread to his elbow. "Now… The real reason I dragged you to no man's land - how'd that happen?"

It was painful to talk about. Reluctantly, Dia let Spike see. "Dave said that I was hogging her."

"Hogging her." Spike's hold was ginger, like carrying a ceramic antique passed down through generations. He reached into Dia's inventory, wanting his jar of resin. Dia allowed it.

"That it was high time I learned to share. He told me that next time she wants to hang out, to tell her 'I'm busy, but Dave isn't'."

"Understand?" He was squeezing so hard, he had to have felt or heard the crunching. "Understand?"

"Yes, sir! I understand…!" Then he let go so abruptly that Dia was surprised his hand didn't fall right off.

"Good." And like always, he held no remorse as he wheeled away.

"As if," His classmate grunted, as he spread the resin over Dia's surface, tiny amounts seeping through the cracks and bringing everything back into place. "He won't even call you by your new name."

"He's… Convinced that this is just a phase. That I'll 'come to my senses' and want to go back." Dia tensed at every bit of repair, but it wasn't nearly as bad as when a part of him needed reattached.

"And then, he'll probably tell you that it's your fault. That you wasted her time. That you should've known better. That you should've thought harder about it."

"Yeah. But I did think, for a long time. But even infinity wouldn't be enough for him…"

"Nothing is," His friend sighed. The job was done. He let go of Dia's arm, as he returned the item. "Look, man. We gotta tell her."

"We can't…! As soon as she leaves again, it'll just… Get worse."

"Maybe on our own, but if all of us…" Was that even possible? Dia was terrified to try, but…

Over time, Spike would introduce the others to this secret place, where it was essentially used to share grievances where Dave was concerned.

"I wonder why he would even want us around, if we're merely his obstacles." Pondered Allen, AKA Green Alien Monitor. Like Dia, he'd chosen his own name.

"He is the crankiest person I know, but I do not have an answer." Chimed in Sleeps, or Gotta Sleep.

"Something about us makes him unhappy, and we cannot seem to fix this, no matter what we do or how we change. He is impossible to satisfy." PlayRobot observed, keenly.

"I think I know," Finally, Error added. "It's because we're not programmed to be his toys any longer. We're capable of doing what we want, and that gets under his skin. He throws around blame like this to exert some kind of control. Since he isn't in control."

"Holy-" A beep from Spike, "That's just it! But why's it such a big-" Another. "-ing deal, when it's what Kelly wanted?"

"I get the feeling that something went wrong when he was merged," Error continued, eloquently, "Since, to my recollection, his Tutor self was as considerate and nurturing as could be. But his other half… It's like he's taken over."

"A-Are you… Saying that…" Dia tried to put his thoughts in order, without sounding like a stammering mess. "She needs t-to… Tweak him?"

In response, Error gave him a soft smile. "Yes. Absolutely. If he cannot see reason and change on his own, she'll have to make him." His statements left Dia speechless. It sounded messed up. But it was either this, or keep living in fear.

"Then, an intervention is recommended," Allen nodded, "Alone, he would win. But he cannot defeat every one of us at once. One way or another, things are going to be different."

"We're agreed, then?" Error glanced around at them. He was given nods, even a reluctant one from Dia.

They waited. Days. Weeks. Then three months had passed. Kelly never returned. Things carried on as usual, as faculty and students alike began to wonder if the next best option was to go through with the plan themselves, somehow. Error had always been exceptional with code, whether knowing how things work, to changing properties with a single tap. It was a pre-existing skill, but no one knew why he had it.

But one day, he'd gathered them together.

(LISTEN. WHILE I WAS 7777ING AROUND, I MADE THIS DOOR APPEAR.)

He opened it.

(IT LOOKS LIKE A SCARY VOID, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY SOMETHING MUCH BETTER THAN THAT. IT'S THE WHOLE GOD7777 INTERNET. AND WE CAN JUST. GO RIGHT IN!)

Everyone was staring in disbelief. Then, Allen replied first.

(WE CAN LEAVE… GO WHEREVER WE PLEASE. WE'LL BE FREE AT LAST.)

They were on board with this, ecstatic even. By this point, it was clear that Kelly wasn't going to come back, and being here was miserable, even when putting aside the elephant in the room.

(SHOULD WE TELL DAVE?)

Speaking of, the question PlayRobot proposed was laughable. So much so, that they did. Loudly. Except for Dia, who only managed a nervous chuckle.

(OH MY GOD, PLAYROBOT. HELL 7777ING NO! HE'LL WANT TO MICROMANAGE EVERYTHING AND IT'LL SUCK SOOO MUCH.
AND LIKE, NOW WE DON'T HAVE TO TRY FIXING HIM! WE CAN JUST DITCH HIM!)

Spike easily refuted, his sentiments shared with the others.

(AH, YOU'RE RIGHT, SPIKE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WAS THINKING.
LET'S)

"Hey! What's so funny?" Everyone immediately shut up, beginning to hear the telltale noise of that damned motorized wheelchair. Given how he wasn't the only one to stiffen from fear, Dia felt a little less like a coward.

(OH DEAR LORD. I AM SO SORRY. PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME HERE. I PROMISE I WON'T DO THIS AGAIN, PLEASE FORGIVE ME.)

PlayRobot apologized quickly, but frankly, it wasn't exactly her fault.

(DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. WE COULD ALWAYS RUN.)

Sleeps offered.

(BAD IDEA. WE'LL BE FOLLOWED FOR SURE.)

Allen, unfortunately, had to reject it.

(NO. LET'S BE STRAIGHT WITH HIM.)

Error overcame himself before anyone else. When Dave arrived, he took one look at the scene and said, "Oh, it's another one of Error's magic tricks. Alright, if we've all had our fun, put everything back."

It was explained to him. Dia was already wincing from whatever kind of fallout they were about to endure. "Absolutely not, Error. We're not leaving. Don't you have any idea how dangerous that place is? What if you get hurt? Or worse, die? Think about how Kelly would feel, if I had to tell her how you guys were stupid enough to do that."

"I'm sorry, how Kelly would feel?" But instead of folding to the algebra teacher's tactics, Error fought back. "That's such a load of-" A beep. "Dave. It was never about her. It was always about you, right from the moment you and Tutor were put together."

"You watch your language; the students are right there!" Dave was more than cross now. Outright offended. "Also, how dare you insinuate that! Whoever put those ideas in your head is lying! But anyway, since I have to repeat myself, we're staying put, and that's final!"

"Well, Angry, maybe if you'd pull your head out of your-" Another beep. "For once in your life, you'd be able to see that your feelings aren't the only ones that matter here. We're sick of waiting for a player who's left us to rot, and we're sick of being stuck here with you. So you know what? You can stay put all you like. We're leaving."

Dave was fuming, blocking the doorway before Error could pass through. "Oh no you don't! I forbid it!" But the secret entity had enough. With a worn face, he knocked Dave sideways, causing him to fall out of his wheelchair. But, goal accomplished, Error walked inside (or outside?) without another word.

Dave didn't immediately right himself to stop the others. Instead, he was stunned, only breaking his silence when Sleeps followed Error. "Wait-! Sleeps! No! Don't go!" Then Allen. "Please! Allen, help me! This is- This is crazy!" Then PlayRobot. "P-PlayRobot, not you too! Come back…!"

Spike glanced at him, to the door, then to Dia. Gently taking his hand, he murmured, "C'mon, let's go."

Dia's unspoken hesitation fell apart, nodding back and letting his friend lead him to freedom.

But Dave's voice gave him pause. The desperation was almost Earth-shattering. "Spike, don't listen to them! They don't know what might happen out there! The Internet's not a safe place!" Spike, however, ignored him. "And Diamond- Dia! Please! I'll- I'll do anything!"

It sounded… Wrong, coming out of his mouth. Somehow, Dia was able to stop the both of them, facing the algebra teacher with a glare. "Oh, so NOW you'll call me Dia? Are you KIDDING me?! Honestly? You're an-" A beep. "Dave. Live with it."

As Dave's already worried expression gave way to despair, Dia turned to the door, pulling a bemused Spike along as he moved forward.

And he never looked back.

"Heyyy, birthday boy!" Dia's reminiscing was interrupted by Gold. He could've sworn neither of his friends were awake, but as he glanced over, both wore smug faces.

He didn't know how to respond. Then, he let out a small yell as the two minerals hopped out of their bed and tackled him from his own.

"Sorry, we didn't crack you, did we?" Ruby was first to relent, quickly followed by Gold. Dia checked, then shook his head. Wow. He did take that surprisingly well. "Okay, that's good. So…" A pause. "We didn't know when we'd have a good time to do this, so now's the best shot we have!"

"… For what, exactly?"

"Your present, duh!" Gold filled in.

"Wait, you guys actually got me something?!" Dia was handed a small present. He couldn't help it. He immediately opened it up, pieces of wrapping paper going flying.

"Of course!" Ruby nodded. "Now… You don't have to wear it if you don't want to. But I saw how much you liked it, and, well…" Inside was the ombre hoodie from that day at the gift shop, which came with a pair of white shorts. "At least you'll have it, right?"

"It's not… Weird to you guys?" Was all Dia could manage. The responses he got were headshakes. "O-Okay. Thanks. I'll…" An idea emerged, equipping the outfit in place of what he was already donning. "I'll sleep in it."

"Heh, that works!" Gold flashed a fluid-y thumbs up, then gave him another present, but this one was a to-go box of some kind. "Annnd! Cake! It's not much, but, ya know." A single slice of chocolate. Dia's favorite.

"Oh my God. Look, I love this a lot, but I won't be able to get any shut-eye if I eat it now."

"Then have it in the morning." Gold just waved it off.

"Cake for breakfast…" Dia breathed, "You're a Goddamn genius."

Morning came and went. Dia was able to eat the slice without drawing any unwanted attention, and was worth every bite. With the rest of the students, and Baldina's staff and faculty, he returned home to the Webspace. Spike chose to sneak into one of the Internet buses.

"Ah… Of fucking course it's raining," Dia mused as his group stepped through the entrance tunnel. "Never gets old." Luckily, he still had the umbrella Billy gave him a while back, so he used it. It was just big enough for him, Ruby, and Gold.

"Where's… Silver?" Ruby murmured, as he scanned their surroundings. He was right - the giant metal mineral was nowhere to be seen. From what Dia knew, it was totally unlike him to not show up for things like this.

"Huh… Um, no sweat!" Gold tried to play it off lightly, "We know where his hut is. We'll just give him a hard time about it. C'mon, Red. See you tomorrow, Dia!"

"Oh yeah, right. See ya!" Dia let them go, missing them already despite having roomed with them for a month straight. Or maybe it was exactly why. Still, they probably figured it'd be best to give him, Spike, and Dave some space for what lie ahead. For the best, since it felt like they already learned a bit too much.

Next to him, his old classmate appeared. "Hey, Dia. You ready?"

Dia nodded. The both of them left the tunnel, looking around for Dave. He should be easy to find, if he wasn't alone.

But, oddly enough, he was. Denied and Billy were both absent. And that was instantly worrying.

Still, Dia flagged him down, Spike following. At first, Dave gave a smile, like nothing was wrong. He greeted Dia with a one-armed hug, the other carrying his own umbrella, noticing Dia's changes in the time he was gone. Then, immediately after, realized that another of his former students had arrived.

"Spike? Is that really you?!"

But the concern Dia had wasn't about if the other two could patch things up, but rather a single question that permeated his thoughts. "Uh… So where's Billy?"

Denied, he could excuse, but Billy… He and Dave were nearly inseparable, deeply committed to each other. Like they were married, except they weren't. And they've been together for how long?! Were either of them ever gonna pop the question?! Well, unless they just preferred not to, some couples were like that, but… It didn't feel like that with them.

Forget that for now. Dave was replying, assuringly. "He couldn't come, but don't worry, he's fine! He's still rebuilding his house after that fire, is all."

"WHAT…?" Frankly, Dia didn't know how else to respond to that information.

"… Okay, I realize how that sounds bad. I'll catch you two up when we get home."

Jesus Christ. What the fuck happened here?!

Chapter Text

The hut was empty, and by "empty", it was a husk - no furniture or sign that it was ever inhabited. Places that they knew the metallic giant frequented bore no sign of him. Still, Ruby and Gold stayed at that deserted house, with only their sleeping bags for bedding. It wasn't like they already weren't, of course, but the space felt even larger the way it was now.

Over there had been the kitchen and dining area. Gold had admitted that he felt like a Goddamn toddler in those chairs, having been designed for a being much larger than him. And over that way was his tall shelf of books, many slotted in and surprisingly normal-sized. Ruby counted all of them: 314. Even the houseplants in the hut were just about out of reach to the smaller minerals. So surreal, but in a way they couldn't help but feel endearment for.

And in the corner, Silver's massive bed used to lay. Perfect for jumping on, whenever he granted them permission. It was surprisingly often, but with a catch - once they're done, they must remake it. Well… That was fair. Especially when they started adding pillow fights.

But now, there was absolutely nothing in it at all.

Days passed, with Silver's absence growing more noticeable. Other mineral kids began wondering the same thing, as he stopped appearing for his escort duties. And as well, Dia hadn't seen him lately. "Damn, he still hasn't come back? I'd help look for him, but, uh… I'm afraid of leaving Spike and Dave alone for more than two seconds."

Yeah, that's right. He had his hands full as it was. "Though, I guess that's the one good thing about my new height - I can, like, physically separate them now, if I have to." It wasn't hard to imagine.

"Still adjusting?" Ruby asked lightly.

"Still adjusting," Dia repeated with a sigh. "But anyway, I'll tell you if I find Silver, okay?" It meant a lot.

"Also, if you ever need help with Spike," Gold offered with the roll of his malleable arm, "I know how to sort 'em out."

"Please don't." The clear diamond deadpanned.

Later, Ruby and Gold were at a loss, as they sat under their favorite tree in the park, not far from where the hut resided.

"… I think there's only one other place we could check." Ruby brought up, and Gold instantly groaned.

"But I haaate that guy!" Ah, he knew exactly where he was going with this.

"I know, I don't like him either, but… What else can we do? Go home?"

"Blech. Never." The soft metal's body wriggled from his cringing.

"Didn't think so."

"Could we at least do a snack run first?"

"Sure thing." It was suddenly a daily occurrence. On the other end of the street, was a convenient little 7/11. At least what they needed was free. It was a bit of a walk though, and while they could just use a bus, it didn't seem worth what would feel like fifteen seconds compared to a three minute stroll down the boardwalk.

On the way, they passed by… Uh. "Holy shit. Red. Look." When Ruby followed Gold's pointing, he noticed it too.

Didn't there used to be a purple house across the street? It was like the whole thing vanished out of thin air. Though, upon the land it used to occupy, was a Human player and… Billy, right? That guy who Silver almost knocked out a short while back?

"Indeed, I have considered how I would go about this," He was saying to the Human, "I have plenty of memories to base it off of. But then, I considered something else. What if… I just built something new? Something better?"

"I mean, yeah, you could do that if you want," She was replying. "But do you think four of you'll be enough?"

"What kind of question is that? Of course it'll suffice."

"I dunno… Just one took seventeen years… And this looks like it'll be closer to…" The player trailed off, trying not to lose composure. "Four and some change."

"That is not canon," The well-made robot retorted, arms crossed. It only served to break her. "Well. We'll see who's laughing once I'm finished. One week. And it'll look spectacular."

"Right, yeah, okay… But you'll need tools, won't you? And blueprints and shit?"

"Already covered, Sam. Dave's been kind enough to lend me those."

"You're in his attic right now, aren't you. Drawing up those plans."

He paused, then looked away. "… Perhaps."

For a bit there, it really looked like one of those "in-character" moments that was common in the Webspace. And then the Human's name was dropped. Sam. That sounded familiar. The two minerals were sure it was mentioned at least once or twice; and that she was Billy's player, way back when.

Such a circumstance felt so unique. Their copies certainly didn't have this attribute. Usually, they simply bade farewell to them, and went Online. And then, some would find the Webspace.

But being able to do so, with one's player able to visit… Wow.

At last, they got their snacks, and this time, opted for a quicker means of transport to their destination. Except, when they arrived…

"Goddamn, what?!" Gold squinted at the sight of Infinity School. "Nah. Nah. Nahhh. This is not supposed to be here."

"… Call me crazy, but maybe they've been swapped around?" Ruby suggested.

"I hope you're right," And he was. The second time around, they reached it. "Jesus Christ. How much you wanna bet some shit went down while we were gone?" The two made their way to the gates. "Anyway, we probably gotta stealth this."

The overcast sky helped hide their reflections and glints, but not entirely. Ruby tapped the poles, testing its durability. "Obsidian. Mohs five. Um… I don't think he knows anything about mineralogy."

Gold snorted. "Even I could take that! This'll be easier than I thought."

They snuck in from the back, Ruby lifting the soft metal over the fence, then climbing over himself. Even with the sharpened barbs, the red gem wasn't going to be the one left with marks, let alone cracks. Gold had decided to splat into a puddle on the astroturf, outfit embedded within, but Ruby just prodded him with his foot. "C'mon, get up. Be serious."

He wasn't sure if he was genuinely underestimating the first Dave's capabilities, or if he was simply trying to lighten the mood. Regardless…

For Ruby, it was hard to forget the general layout of 1's school, despite a part of him wishing he could: How futuristic it was, how unusual it appeared and functioned. That the second floor was for residential and/or office rooms. Each one had a balcony, so they wouldn't be hard to spot. In fact, what brought Gold's attention was a sky blue, translucent barrier that completely closed off one of them.

"Ohhhh ho ho, no fucking way," He was unable to suppress his reaction, "That's gotta be our guy. Launch me, Red! I gotta get a closer look!"

"What if it's a trap?" It wouldn't be unlike the first Dave. He planned from every angle. "We don't know what might…"

"I mean, yeah. But the more I think about it, the more I ask myself, 'What's 1 gonna do, anyway?'"

"Send you home?" Or worse, if they were considered that troublesome. At the blunt response, Gold shut down, walking back to the fence. "Wait, I don't mean we should give up!"

Then, to his surprise, his friend loosened an arm, wrapping it around one of the poles, and squeezed until it gave way. Then, he returned with half of it. "Oh Hell no, man! Let's see how Obsidi here takes to the… Whatever the fuck that is!"

Before Ruby could protest, Gold launched it. The barbed tip broke off in a few places on impact, but fell back to the ground. Now, the red gem didn't know what to say. "Cool! We won't get vaporized, or trapped, or nothing! My turn!"

With a double facepalm, Ruby allowed it.

Once the heavier mineral landed, he began to inspect the barrier more thoroughly. It was… Rather impenetrable. And yet, as already observed, this was the only balcony to have this feature.

From all the noise, the sliding doors to the room inside opened, and from them emerged

Silver. Silver!

Gold promptly fell forward, arms stretching around the barrier, as if to hug him. "Hey! Dude! There you are! We've been so worried about you!" Silver stared up at him, with sad eyes.

"YOU SHOULD NOT BE HERE" He replied.

"Yeah, well, an empty hut is a depressing hut," Gold didn't notice the expression. "What gives? I thought you were done with him!"

"I HAVE BEEN GROUNDED" A hint of bitterness in those words, "NOW PLEASE LEAVE"

"That doesn't make any sense! You don't even live here anymore!"

"IT IS COMPLICATED" He didn't want to explain. As much as Gold was hungry for details, the other metal wasn't willing to dish any out.

"Hey there, Gold 99," He froze, rising immediately and whirling around to face the speaker. 1, who floated above him with an unimpressed gaze. "I see you two have gone and made a bit of an… Entrance. How was your field trip?"

Gold refused to answer, backing away a few steps. But it was all he could do - the bravado he had moments ago had disappeared.

"go away dave" He had to look back to see what Silver was saying. "this does not concern you"

"It concerns me when they break my fence," 1 calmly refuted, pointing at it briefly. "As well as… Hm, were you and Ruby 77 hoping to pull off a rescue mission? I'd advise against that, if so." He paused, as the silver giant threw something at him. Of course, the barrier blocked it.

"if not for this asinine prison, i would tear you to pieces"

"And acting like that, Silver, won't change my mind. Now please, behave." This… Was a level of hostility that Gold didn't expect. And worse still, the first Dave was completely unfazed, making it apparent that this wasn't anything new. The soft metal was suddenly a lot more grateful for his own (metaphorical) upbringing.

Seriously, if it was either this or home, he'd go home. Immediately.

"GOLD" His attention snapped back to Silver. "THERE IS NO TIME, YOU MUST RUN"

"Oh, there's no need for that," 1 shook his head, tabbing to a device of some kind; metallic, rectangular, and with an antenna. "I've already dealt with Ruby, so it only makes sense to-" He was cut off by a piercing, mangled screech.

"dealt with, are you serious" Gold only barely managed to focus on the text. "do you even hear yourself" Meanwhile, 1 waited until the noise died down, still unwavering.

"Are you finished?" Another few moments passed before he continued, "Good. Anyway, it only makes sense to send you home, too. Your Daves have missed you greatly." He was pointing the item at Gold. Maybe it was a teleporter? "Just this once, I'll let this little escapade of yours slide. Don't take it lightly."

After Silver stopped heaving, he managed to calm. It was sudden. "BEFORE HE LEAVES, I WANT TO TELL HIM SOMETHING"

For a change, 1 grew confused, yet curious. And admittedly, so was Gold. 1 lowered his arm. "… Very well."

"THE MASKS ARE INSIDE THE WALLS" Gold had no idea what this meant, but in an instant, 1 lost composure.

"How do you know that?!" He yelled out in panic, but Silver ignored him.

"RUN, GOLD" He ordered a second time. Gold didn't hesitate, ducking underneath 1 and leaping off the balcony's barrier, landing with a roll. He didn't dare look back as he sprinted right for the damaged fence, using his malleable legs as a springboard. The concrete dented beneath him, but he kept going.

A short while later, he had to stop to catch his breath, stamina expended. Oddly enough, he hadn't been followed, as he hurriedly glanced around him.

Given how he himself was safe, it was time to make sure Ruby was, too. He pulled out his phone, dialing his number. It took a bunch of rings, but eventually, his friend picked up.

"Gold! You okay?"

"Yeah, no worries!" It was a relief to hear him. "You're never gonna believe this, but I escaped! I'll, uh… Tell you and Dia about it soon."

"Thank God…"

"How about you, you good? I heard about what 1 did. God, I can imagine how awkward things must be right now."

"Uh, about that. My Dave was… So happy to see me. Tristan was crying; he missed me a ton." Ruby's voice lowered. "Everyone did."

He didn't need to go on, Gold knew exactly what he was talking about. Ruby never stopped feeling guilty for running away. Every day, Gold was sure that he considered going back. But then, so many went by that he thought it was too late - that they wouldn't want him anymore, that he'd done something unforgivable.

But the immense pressure that THRIVE wrought upon him had become too much to bear. Responsibilities handed to a seemingly mature character, despite the fact he wasn't much older than his peers. Expectations during certain meetings and gatherings that he never wanted to talk about. His usually robust grades began to slip, and that was when Gold finally noticed that something was wrong.

Even the sturdy Ruby would've broken to pieces under all that weight. So, on that night, from outside his bedroom window, Gold convinced him to bail. Regret replaced that pressure, but it had to be better than this.

"Shit, really?" At the present, though, he replied, "That's good! Even with the…?"

"Oh, right. That's… Not a thing anymore?" The red gem began to explain, "Dave told me that he was sorry that he made me help out." An understatement, but whatever. "Apparently, he and the others disbanded it. 1 is not to be trusted, he said, and if I ever see him again, tell him immediately." Whoa. That was actually surprising, but… It made sense. After a pause, Ruby continued, "I know you're reluctant, but… I think it's safe now."

To go home. Goddamnit.

"Ugh… Dude, I dunno. I'm not sure." If he would've been missed, but he didn't want to say that.

"It's not like you have very many options… Wait. Hold on." Then, the soft metal listened in on the background noise that followed - a conversation he couldn't distinguish, between Ruby and 77.

"What?! He's still out there?!" That, he did manage to catch; the alarm in the House Dave's tone.

"Yeah, but he escaped! He's fine!" Ruby was trying to assure.

"Still… May I talk to him?" He must've allowed it, because the voice became a lot more audible. "Gold, can you hear me? It's 77!"

Concern, plain and simple. Refreshingly familiar. "Yeah, I'm here…!"

"Where are you? We'll come pick you up, and you can stay with me as long as you like!" While Gold hadn't asked if he could, it wasn't like he was opposed to it. Considering what he'd just heard, he'd trust 77's word over 1's - and truth be told, this was better than another night spent in that lonely hut. He looked around a second time, to discern his whereabouts.

"Across the street from the hardware store?" He answered, though perplexed by the coincidence.

"Great! Go inside, and we'll meet you there! And Gold, most importantly, stay on the line; don't hang up. I know this all might sound strange, but I promise that it's to help keep you safe." He could hear the care that dripped from those statements. It almost made him tear up. He missed this version of their Daves so, so much.

Maybe… He could go home. Maybe. Not now, but maybe soon.

He did as he was told. "No, I, um… I believe you. Thanks for this. And…" He trailed off for a moment. "Please don't tell my Dave. I'm… Not ready to face him yet."

77 hesitated. "I understand. But he needs to know you're okay. I'm only just now learning things from your and Ruby's side, but he really has been fretting over you."

The soft metal took a breath, trying to keep it together. "I know."

He actually didn't. On that night, which felt like a lifetime ago, he'd been so convinced that his Dave would've come back eventually and not notice a thing. By that point, he was barely around as it was. Yes, the others were still there, but it wasn't the same. And soon, it became apparent that this abnormal behavior was all thanks to that stupid fucking Initiative.

Surely, Gold's absence would've gone ignored. And yet… It didn't? He wasn't sure what to think about that.

"Look, Gold. I'll tell him what you told me. I know how to get through to him. And when you want to talk, I'll let him know, alright?"

"… Yeah. Okay. That'll work." It took everything Gold had to fight the urge to cry. And, as if sensing that, 77 changed the subject, on a dime.

"Oh! By the way, we're almost there! Just one more block!"

"'So, who was that?'" Gonzalo asked Shy Worker, as soon as he'd hung up the corded telephone. With a slight flinch, he found him smiling in curiosity.

"'Bilis, Captain.'" The reply was curt, paired with a salute.

"'Oh, how nice! Did he bring news of the surface?'"

The crewmate began to falter, unsure of where to begin. "'Well, you see, there's a lot to mention, and so…'"

"'At ease, sailor. That was rhetorical,'" The captain sighed. Both questions were. "'I know exactly what happened.'"

There was a pause. "'If I may say… You're taking this… Very well.'" And despite the statement, the mood of the room was tense.

"'You must understand. I may appear composed,'" Gonzalo replied, with an ever so slight twinge of his gloved fingers, "'But inside, I'm screaming, with a fury that rivals Moby Dick.'" The only other noises outside of their voices was the hum of machinery, and the occasional ocean current. It made it easy to hear Shy Worker's gulp.

"'Aye. Understandable. I too feel… This wretched thirst. Among other aspects that I struggle to define.'" So much so, that apparently, very little was displaying itself.

"'Still, the others must be informed at once. But… My reaction is not the one you should worry about,'" Gonzalo allowed a smidge of dread. "'It's our beloved friend, the shipwright.'"

Before the crewmate could faint, Gonzalo steadied him. He emitted a nervous laugh, realizing how scary that must've sounded. "'Relax! I'll handle it.'"

With everyone gathered in the control room, he did as he promised. His listeners composed primarily of those from his game, as well as Denied's, and a once-seemingly random player going by the name of "Sydney", who'd somehow managed to make his way over to the vessel back in early April.

He had untamed black hair, rectangular glasses, a light skin tone, and really liked hot pink. He'd asked for work, and despite his lack of naval experience, Gonzalo welcomed him aboard as an intern, proceeding to throw a uniform at him. But to Sydney's credit, he learned the ropes pretty fast.

But anyway, that was the cast of sailors all accounted for.

After the captain broke the news (in English, due to the foreign Human on board), a long silence followed. Morale was sure to plummet. At last, Bob spoke up. "Then, I believe it's time to return to the surface."

"To see him?"

"Yes, but also, to avenge him." No hesitation. This was exactly what Gonzalo was referring to earlier. And while he wanted to do the same…

"I hear you, but we should be smart about this. Going back can easily lead to problems."

"But if we do nothing, 1 will only advance," Bob countered, "Do you believe that he would just stop at Denied, when we're still here? He's sent a Dave to us before, he will do it again. And this time, they won't be friendly."

"What makes you think that?" Around them, the crewmates were following the discussion, pondering the options.

"He could've spared him, because he'd already won. Viktor was defeated, Infinity School surrendered. But on that day, by murdering Denied, he made a statement - a declaration of war against our entire family." Well… All of that was possible, but not definite.

"And, as I know you know, Billy is still out there. How much longer are we going to forsake him, when he needs us most? Such as now?" Alright, but even without them, it wasn't like Billy was alone.

Meanwhile, the others were beginning to voice their opinions.

"Let's beat up a cyborg!"
"Put some holes in him!"
"Lock him up forever!"
"For Denied! For the Billter family!"
"And Viktor too?" That one was Sydney. He had a funny voice.
"Yeah, I guess."

"'Oh my God…'" Gonzalo muttered, volume so low that he almost couldn't hear it.

"So, Captain," Bob started again once their voices died down, arms crossed. "Do we need to hold a vote?"

"We're not going anywhere. Not blindly, at least." Under normal circumstances, that would've been enough of a rebuttal. But this wasn't such a case. Really, what part of "sure we'll go, but we need a strategy" did Bob fail to understand? Should've Gonzalo used that silly play on words, like "we should have a well-made plan"?

But instead, what he did go with came off as a refusal. And he was met with a disappointed glare, the shipwright's pupils adopting a certain red glow that was common among their games. It showed itself from intense anger, or "Rage mode" as they called it. Not to be confused with the concept of PURPOSEs; this was separate. More like a curse, really.

Frankly, Gonzalo's eyes should've been displaying it as well, but focused restraint gave him the privilege of hiding it. To be fair, that was no easy feat, not for them. And for as long as they've been in the Webspace, patching it out was considered; however, only their new adversary was skilled enough to do so.

Back to the point, unlike Bob's only remaining son, who would probably be threatening Gonzalo's life right now, the shipwright turned away and left without another word. What in the Hell was he up to?

Donned in an archaic diving suit, Bob left the hatch behind, a few new items in his inventory. He let himself sink to the underside of the submarine, until he was directly below. He opened a secret panel, exposing a holder for a chain. Selecting the relevant item, he connected one end to it, then the other to himself. Finally, he dropped to the ocean floor, ignoring the sand flying up in his wake.

He began walking, until the chain was at its most outstretched. He gripped it, then gave a tug. Against all types of logic and physics, the entire submarine was pulled forward as if it were a mere balloon attached to a string. It wasn't from outlandish strength, but by design - as its builder, only Bob was permitted in dragging it around.

Moments later, the internal walkie-talkie crackled to life. "'ROBERTAS LĖ, WHAT IN THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?!'" Bob just smirked. It seems that he finally got Gonzalo to lose his temper.

"'Spiting you, Captain.'" Was his answer, unfazed.

"'Well, cut the shit and get back here! These are uncharted waters!'"

Bob whipped out a harpoon gun. It wasn't his, but he admired it all the same. "'I'm not helpless, Gonzalo. I can take care of myself.'"

"'Look, I wasn't trying to say 'no'! If you could just LISTEN to me and use that usually rational brain of yours, we can do something that'd make everyone happy!'"

"'He killed my son.'"

"'And more of us will die, if we don't THINK! What if that smug bastard is waiting for us? At least out here, we have time on our side!'" There was a pause. "'He lured Denied, just like he's luring us. We CANNOT take his bait, no matter how badly we want to make him pay. We'll avenge Denied, but we have to do this right.'"

Slowly, the anger was fading. Both of them had their points, but ultimately, such risks couldn't be taken. That, and it would be wrong to make Billy go through worse circumstances. They were supposed to be the role models; and yet here Bob was, acting so recklessly. How unbecoming. Shameful.

"'… Then, what are you proposing?'" He finally asked.

"'I'd be pleased to discuss it with you and the others, if you'd just. Come back.'" The last statement was in a plea. Peculiar, as Gonzalo was more known to be rather tight-lipped when it came to expressing that sort of thing. Perhaps he was alone.

"'Afraid not. You can catch me up. Besides, I've been meaning to go on a sea walk. The exercise would be good for me. After all, we're not getting any younger.'"

He heard a heavy, tired sigh. The captain was groaning, "'We don't age, Robertas. You're just too embarrassed, aren't you?'"

He knew Bob too well. He couldn't help but grin, a small one at that. "'A little.'"

"'Fine,'" Gonzalo's current demeanor hadn't changed, "'I'll keep the line open. I don't want to have to explain this over and over again.'"

"'Fair enough.'"

Really, Bob could've gone on a bit of a tangent about that whole age thing (as he's done at least a few times in the past, he remembered). If he'd been in his 30's in the 80's, roughly forty years would have passed, making him… 70-something, or close to it.

Yet, he was the only one of them to truly embrace seniority. Somehow, saying things like "Care to listen to an old man's story?" had a nice ring to it.

"Yes, that's right, I'm ancient," He used to tell players, on the off-chance they were on the mainland, "But still, I'm glad to be here. What a time to be alive." At their expected confusion, he'd then proceed to mention that it was all thanks to abolishing the previously canon endings, where they'd died in an engine explosion.

No, what they'd collectively decided was making it as far as the Mediterranean Sea, halfway to the Suez Canal, where they encountered a young, stray merman. And soon after that, they had to turn around and go back to Lithuania, due to similar engine reasons that didn't result in disaster. Billy would see his father again, and have a new brother, and blah blah blah…

But honestly, he could talk to those visitors for hours. Now that he thought about it, he kind of missed it. Sydney's presence gave a new twist on what was the norm for a long time, and Sam was always a delight whenever she stopped by, although - at no fault of the players - it wasn't quite enough to scratch that itch.

What if he stayed on the surface? Would the captain and the others fare well without him? While he was supposed to make sure his regulations were being followed, they were no longer confined to the context of their game. Therefore, was he still needed?

He pondered this as, after a million years of standing there, he climbed up the chain back to the submarine, this time making sure he wasn't flinging it around haphazardly.

The plan was far more simple than expected. The crew would make their way to the secret cave at the shoreline's dropoff, disembark, and follow it, leading them directly to Billy's house. The whole journey would take roughly two weeks. And while 1 might try to find them by scanning for their locations, it won't tell him much more than "undocumented" until they arrive.

Which, fortunately, made them completely inconspicuous. Once at their rendezvous point, however… They'd need to act fast.

Gonzalo had just finished up when he heard Bob re-enter through the hatch. Catching up to him, he asked, rather slyly, "'Enjoy your sea walk?'"

"'Immensely.'"

"'See anything interesting out there?'"

"'Not a thing.'"

"'That's too bad. Well, I assume you're aware of what must be done now, right?'" Bob unequipped the diving suit, not understanding what he meant. With that, Gonzalo dragged him over to the nearest telephone, pulled out the receiver, and handed it to him. "'You get to call him back!'"

"'… What.'"

"'I know you're not deaf, Shipwright. Captain's orders!'" Cheeky for sure, but very much intended. Without another word, he turned away and left.

Chapter Text

When Erie awoke, she thought she was still at Infinity School's front grounds, fighting 1. And nearby, was what appeared to be his silhouette. So, the first thing she did was jerk herself upright and grab him without hesitation.

Then, to her surprise, a shocked cry was emitted, seeing him flail around in her grasp. "Wait-! Miss Erie, please-! Please don't hurt me!"

And finally, she realized it - this wasn't 1, but a Dave who sort of looked like him. He had the visor, but his top had the "robot suit" text and buttons. And while the room resembled what was 1's school, he was far from the only one to have the Future design.

No. This was an ordinary Future Dave. Now that she thought about it, why him and not Billy? Was he okay? Some details were fuzzy. And according to the timekeeper of the domain, it's been a week. In any case… Yeah, better release this poor guy.

"Sorry, sorry!" She said as she did so. She waited for him to calm down before adding, in realization, "That's odd. Wasn't 1 against the whole revival thing? Why would he want me back?"

"Oh, ha ha…" The Dave gave a nervous chuckle, "He didn't; I did this on my own. You see, I'm not a part of THRIVE anymore. In fact, I don't think anyone worth their sodium chloride is, nowadays." He cleared his throat, reaching out for a handshake. "I'm #56. An authentic The Future Is Here. I wish it were on better terms, but it's nice to meet you!"

When Erie returned the gesture, that was when he noticed something. "Oh. Mrs. Erie. Sorry about that!" Her ring. Ah, yes, Alice. Always fills her with warmth. That said, she better be okay, too. Considering how she wasn't even part of the battle, hopefully she was.

"It's fine!" Let's get back on track. "So, you were saying that THRIVE's… Gone?"

"That is correct. Here- Let me show you something." 56 nodded, wheeling away for a moment. As he did so, Erie swung her legs over the side of the worktable she'd been laying on. Once he returned, he held one of the bronze pendants that just about every Dave had worn. However, the one he possessed was opened, revealing a hollowed interior, with small bits of circuitry.

"It was right after we won," He explained, letting her see it, "These pendants? They let him listen in on everything. For most of us, that alleged disrespect is what did it. For me, though, I wanted to know if it was true."

"… And it is," The librarian solemnly finished, voice quiet. "I'm sorry he did that to you."

"Indeed," The Future Dave replied, "But I think what's worse, is that ever since that day, I've seen absolutely no sign of Silver. None of us have, and none of us want to confront 1 about it. Who knows what other machinations he has in store, in case things really went sideways!"

"Silver?" Erie could only vaguely recall him. Actually, she didn't think she'd ever talked to him.

"Silver Man. He's like you, in the way where all his duplicates are combined. But then, it makes knowing which copy he's from a tricky dilemma. Last I checked, we'd decided that he belongs to every Future Dave. So, if 1 did something to him… Hoo boy! We may have to start getting a little rambunctious!"

The vocabulary, if Erie was being honest, was a soft spot for her. She was sure that 56 was being serious, but she still couldn't help but get a kick out of it. Daves were cute when they were angry - most of the time. But in this instance, it would be impolite to show it, in front of the one responsible for her reawakening.

"Ah, I see," She replied, "Well, thank you for fixing me up. I should get going; there's a lot I need to do."

"Oh yes, it's no trouble at all, Mrs. Erie," He obliged her request, rolling back to give her space to rise off the worktable and head to the door. "Pardon my tangent. Is there anyone you'd like me to call to come get you?"

The librarian paused at the doorway, then faced him again. "Alice Freudenmacher?"

Two lefts, and then a right; those were 56's directions to the front doors. But above all, be careful out there, he'd warned lightly. With the state the Webspace was in now, Erie could understand that.

While waiting for her wife's arrival, she pulled out her phone, hoping to get more up-to-date with the rest of the current events. Any regulations involving Alex were purged, and in its place was a WANTED announcement, written up by 1 himself. For that Baldi Viktor kept around. Alive, unharmed, promising a hefty reward that Erie couldn't parse.

Still, she wouldn't doubt that someone out there would act on it.

Along her timeline, there were occasional status messages from friends and those she followed, confirming that they were alive. Those who hadn't, she urged to DM them, one after the other. Even with those she knew weren't normally active on social media.

Viktor was exempt, for she knew the fate he befell. But Tiara… Would 1 have done the same to her? To Laura? To Angell? To Marzia? To… Scrina? Suddenly, 56's concern over Silver was a lot more relatable.

And what about Aldurra's family? Billy's? Despite being separate games by different makers, they'd somehow woven connections between each other. It was important to remember this at all times.

Luckily, soon, responses came in. Thank GOD.

Angell🪷 (@ANGELLICA) [6:13 PM]
It's good to hear from you, Erie!
I'm alright. I felt like I was dying, but I survived.
We should all meet up soon and talk about it.

Angell! She almost died?! That, and her handle was different, as well - no longer bearing the "VL" for "Vice Leader". That part made sense.

Laura💼 (@LAURA) [6:14 PM]
Welcome back, Erie. I am relieved to see you again. As for me, my selves have made full recoveries. It was aggravating and grueling, but we've been through worse, in my opinion.
Are you okay?

Laura! That did sound like a hassle…

PoPiPo!🦋 (@CANDICEFAIRY) [6:16 PM]
Erie! Ohmigosh, you're okay! I was getting SO. WORRIED.
Ah, all's well over here! Aldurra, Olivia, and Scrina too!
Apparently, they and a few others managed to lock Alex up in his own realm.
It's. Really ironic.

Candice! And Scrina! And… That explains Alex, then.

Marzia🍉 (@MARZIAV) [6:17 PM]
Oh, thank goodness! I was wondering when you'd come back.
I'm not sure if you are aware of it yet, but things've gotten worse.
I can tell you about it, if you like.

Marzia! Yeah, she'll have to go with Angell's advice and arrange a meet-up. Soon. Very soon.

Nothing from Tiara. This was concerning.

Well-Made_Account🧤 (@BILLYLĖ) [6:19 PM]
Hello, Erie! I've missed you. I'm sorry that I wasn't able to repair you this time.
Once I awoke, you were already being tended to, and.
To be honest, a lot happened, but I'm sure you know all about it.

Billy!… But he sounded stressed, try as he might to hide it. That was even more concerning.

But she wasn't able to reply to any of them right away. Her beloved appeared just outside the futuristic school. Despite the situation at hand, her presence was comforting, as the two exchanged loving embraces and kisses.

"This has to stop happening to you." Alice jested lightly, although there was truth in those words.

"I know, I know… It's not fun for me either," Erie sighed, setting her wife back down. Outside, hand in hand, the both of them left with their usual high leaps. Graceful, elegant, and with a feather-like landing that barely grazed the ground. They were heading home. During the trip however, something came to Erie's mind. "I feel like the time's finally right. I'll need your help."

To get information on THRIVE, and its Daves and associates. No one worth their salt is loyal to 1 anymore. Sure, it's after the disastrous loss of Viktor's leadership, but opportunities to learn from this tragedy was still a viable option. Even if it could take days, or weeks, to go through them all (depending on how many were willing to volunteer, that is).

It was far from the first time Alice heard Erie bring up such a thing. "We'll split them 50/50."

"And you'll get 82." He may've been the only one not part of it, but any insight is invaluable.

"Of course, of course." It was taking everything the history teacher had to not crack up laughing at the alternative.

When they were back to the familiarity of their home, the invitations were DMed to every Dave who was around up to before the attack on Infinity School, a process that was tedious by itself. A small warning for what madness may lie ahead. That, and there were their faculty affiliates, but the more reasonable idea was to downsize, then get to them later.

And damn it all, it just might help.

"So… Let's start at the beginning. What can you tell me about the Gathering?" Erie gently asked, electronic clipboard in hand.

"He's… He's not going to find out, is he?" Dave #2, Fun Algebra Class. Self-described as ordinary and plain. Currently timid, most likely referring to his direct predecessor.

"No, absolutely not," The librarian assured, "Not even if he tries to scrape it out of me." It only semi-helped, but it was enough.

"Well… His intentions were clear from the start - the end goal was always overthrowing Viktor. But it wasn't until later that we learned how… Er, confrontational it would be."

"His speech was super compelling. Somehow, I didn't see any need to think about it!" 35, another Fun Algebra Class. The first few dozen were. Then Future Daves started mixing in. And so on. "It was also strange, how one moment, I was talking to other mes, then the next, I was in the auditorium with everyone. And when we were interjecting a lot, he clapped once and we all stopped! Just like that! … Something tells me that maybe I shouldn't have eaten the pizza, so to speak." Did. Did he think 1 did something to the refreshments? Or to them directly? Would he sink that low?!

"Boy, do I feel like such a fool, to have bought into 1's rhetoric!" 46, a House, was bent over in dramatized regret. Apparently, he was one of the more assertive of his copies. He looked back up at Alice. "Though, at least I made a friend out of it - he's a merman, you see. Very good at cooking too, though I'll never understand his liking for anchovies. Now, I'm open for options, but I definitely draw the line there! Regardless, I wonder how he's doing. He was the only good thing in THRIVE. Heck, I even forgive 82 for stepping on my face on the way out!"

Alice abruptly stopped taking notes at the statement. "… Pardon?"

"Dave 82. But of course it would be him - he's the most different Dave there is! We should've been following his example! That guy was onto something!"

"82 was at the Gathering…?" She'd been under the impression that he never attended.

"Yes, but like I said, he left, wheelchair be darned. You know, maybe he should've kept his on-hand in case of emergencies like this. All I could tell him was, 'Watch where you're going, punk!', but he knew. I wish I did, too."

Well. Thank God he was on her list.

"I already mentioned the pendants, so I won't waste your time with that." 56 started, after greeting Erie with pleasantries such as "Hello again! You look well!" and "You two have a lovely home."

"I will say, the meetings were rather boring, even by his standards. They began as once a week, then twice a week, with a few urgents sprinkled here and there. But a lot of the time, I wished I could put myself into sleep mode! Clearly, all the budget went into that initial Gathering's speech! Ridiculous. He was lucky that the more energetic of us picked up the slack."

Not surprising at all, Erie thought to herself. 1 has always been a bit of a droner.

"Can't believe how all-out he ended up going," 57, a Sky High Adventure, one of the first. "Orchestra, flag-bearing, and then the confetti and clean-up? We must've appeared quite silly!" Erie resisted the urge to agree, but it must've shown on her face. "It's okay, you can say it!"

"Okay, well, I wasn't there until the fighting happened, but… Yeah. It was… Not so threatening?"

"Of course we weren't! We're very different game types! We couldn't be scary no matter how hard we tried!"

"Especially when you do the, the um… Angry eyebrows?"

"Oh, this?" He pointed, as it materialized on his face from thin air, but obviously he wasn't actually upset. Not even when the librarian finally broke composure and unleashed an unflattering cackle, doubling over in the process. Professionalism, gone. Out the window. "Yes, I completely understand. And 1 himself is not, and never will be, immune to the goofiness!"

"I can't remember why I was ever excited," 68, another Fun Algebra Class. Still the most common variety to arrive. "Well, I can, but I'm embarrassed by it. Imagining the Webspace without Viktor feels wrong, now. As if we've disturbed the golden ratio. I dread what else would've happened if we stuck by 1. Or… What may happen as a result of not staying with him… Hopefully nothing. Please don't tell him I was here! What if he… Like he did… Him? Golly, I'm scared now…!" This one… He needed a hug. To be fair, he had good reason.

To the rest of the Daves she would see, Alice had asked her new leading question: "Do you know what happened to 82 at the Gathering?" It was a while before one of them had an answer.

"Oh, 82? I saw him at the front gate," 77, another House. A bit of a polar opposite to what 46 was like. "Me, 88, and 99 saved him a seat, since he looked a bit… Lonely. And nervous. Not that I blame him. But right after 1 revealed the pendants - I think that's when it was - he was suddenly gone! But unfortunately, I and many others were distracted by those… Those cursed necklaces. When I found out that it was 1's way of eavesdropping on us, I melted mine down as soon as I got home! I was steaming!"

Okay, a bit more info to go off of, and two other leads. But now, he was on another subject, so Alice let him prattle on.

"And in doing so, I realized: It was quite awful, how THRIVE changed me. It was to the point where I even got Ruby involved. It was so bad, that he ran away at some point." He paused, before he was able to smile, softly. "Recently, he came home, and we made up. Told him to never trust 1. Never." Very relieving.

"Oh, and before I forget, 99's Gold has been living with me too. Uh, for personal reasons that I'm not going to divulge. But what I can tell you is this: He and Ruby found Silver, and apparently he's 'grounded' for some reason. And he told Gold something very cryptic. I have a suspicion or two, but maybe you or Mrs. Erie will know more accurately what it means?"

Whatever it was, the history teacher had to know. She nodded for him to continue.

"'The masks are inside the walls'," He then recited. Oh dear God. Then, his face turned to one of thought, hand on his chin. "You don't think… I mean, 1 did stash away a lot of things in his school's walls, for convenience. In fact, we've had to rebuild our wheelchairs, because asking for them back was out of the question."

"Well, not to worry, I'll discuss it with Erie." Thankfully, that response seemed to be enough for him. But when it was possible, and both her and Erie had the energy to, it would be touched on.

Unfortunately, 82 didn't show, and wasn't there when called. So, Alice continued with the rest of her split. As it turned out, 88 was too enamored by joining THRIVE to notice 82 leave. However…

"I wasn't much of a fan of those meetings, no. I think I preferred socializing! So many others of me and not-mes that I barely ever got to talk to. When 1 wasn't around to be a stick-in-the-mud, we'd often liven it up with parties! Did you know that some of us like lasagna? Or spaghetti? And that others of us have never tried them?!" He was another Sky High Adventure, practically bouncing from topic to topic. "Oh, and the training, so brutal! It didn't help that 1 let 46 lead that. I did get to see what everyone used, though! We're surprisingly versatile!" At last, he paused for a moment. "In the end, while it came from a place that I wish I'd gone without… It did lead to something nice. Isn't that what counts?"

That was one way of seeing it. There were definitely good times.

Onto 99. His words had more promise.

"I thought it was strange, at first. Why would he just leave?" He was a Dream, and like a few others, he spoke with less energy and speed than his adjacents. Despite this, he was no less observant. "Then, I found it all the more peculiar when 1 flew after him, leaving the pendant-passing-downs to Silver and Green Alien Monitor. He didn't come back for at least ten to fifteen minutes, and even then, he was alone. I assumed he let him go home. Knowing what we do now… It might've not been so simple."

So, there was most likely a chase, while the majority of their fellow Daves were left unaware. A worrying notion was beginning to form.

"I certainly didn't enjoy how things ended up," 101, another The Future Is Here, threw in his two cents, "I will always be of the belief that this could've been resolved better. Put them in a room together and disarm them! Yes, it's true that Viktor isn't perfect, but it doesn't mean we're not flawed. For example, I've always wished I could 'go back', like how 1 'went forward'. It's not so great!"

It's a shame things didn't go more peacefully, Erie lamented to herself.

"My position, after Alex broke out, was actually quite uneventful, aside from a non-Dave showing up to join," 110 noted, though he presented himself calmly and cordially. Yet another- Okay, unless they aren't, just assume that it's another Fun Algebra Class. Each with their own quirks and traits, but still. "And I'm sure no one envied me. 'Good for you, 110!' 'Keep up the good work, 110!' 'Oh, you're so perfect for the role, 110!' I'm aware of what I'm like - they didn't want my job. I can see why 46 was somewhat annoyed by them. Though nowadays, a few ask me how I can possibly feel so unaffected. The truth is, I'm just able to handle things even under pressure, is all. It isn't that it's not awful, because it absolutely is, and shouldn't have come to pass. But we can't chain ourselves down with the 'what ifs', we have to keep moving and learn from it."

There was bound to be at least one of them who was equipped in that way. Quite insightful.

"To be honest, I was one of the idiots who fell right on my face, in my hurry to join," 119 was chuckling nervously. "Maybe 1 saw potential in my eagerness, because I was landed with recruiting outsiders. I didn't like having to lie about not knowing why we couldn't invite you guys. I don't think I can forgive myself for that. And for my efforts, we only got one, but he's… Well, in 'limbo', as they say. I check up on him often, hoping that he'll be awake each time."

A very unsettling portrait was being made out of that…

"It takes me back… All of… Coming up to about two months now? Yes," 134, the last Dave to be a part of THRIVE whilst it was still active, "A much younger, naïve me. I wish I had someone to tell me that this was going to be bad news, it would've saved me so much trouble. But… It can't be helped. If there's anything that I or the others can do to fix this, I'm sure plenty of us would be more than happy to assist you!"

What a nice thought. It wasn't out of the realm of possibility.

It took days, just as planned, and they finally finished that night. But even so, both were exhausted, as they lay lazily together on their living room couch. Erie's head went over the back, both arms resting on it, while Alice was face down on an elbow cushion, legs over her wife's lap, arm draped down the front.

"There's… A few trends." Erie tried to say.

"We have only one merman in the whooole Webspace," Alice's tone was much the same. "And he's doing terribly. My heart breaks over whatever his family might be feeling…"

Erie checked her phone. Off and on, between interviews, she'd kept up with the DMs. "Oh, they know," She yawned, "Billy told me they're coming back from the sea. 1 must've really pissed off Gonzalo, I guess."

"Bob, honey. Bob is their dad. But yes, Gonzalo too."

"Oh, fuck, right. Sorry, I'm tired."

Alice managed a quiet snort of laughter. "Um… and the masks thing. In 1's walls. That's…" A groan, unable to put together her thoughts.

"Yeah, but that does clear up Tiara not getting back to me. She's just as dangerous, but with like, none of Viktor's leniency."

"Uh-huh… How would we ever be able to get them out?"

"I literally have no idea. Actually, I'm counting on that crew to bail us out at this point."

"Ah, right… Wait, God. What was the last thing?"

"You thinking 82 never went to the Gathering? Because he totally did. He just doesn't remember anything about it."

"And he's also never been a part of THRIVE… Uh. But what does it all mean?"

"… That shithead really did it," The librarian, however, sounded like she understood. "I told him not to mess with memories, but no one ever listens to me!"

"Oh, no," Alice turned weary. "He didn't…"

"If I were able to peer into that poor guy's timeline," Erie was confident, "I bet three pints of ice cream that there'll be a blank section from that night."

"And… You wouldn't be able to recreate it, would you?"

"Not unless I used the perpetrator's. And let's be real, he wouldn't allow that," Just as things seemed the most depressingly hopeless, there was a knock on their front door. "Oh sweet Jesus Christ. Speak of the Goddamn devil. Was he waiting for us to be unable to fight back? Again?" As Erie continued to grumpily go on, Alice let out a sigh, deciding to be the bearer of whatever the two were about to face.

But then her wife weakly took her hand, face pleading with digital tears on her screen. "Dear, nooo. No. You're too good to dieee…"

"And you just got fixed up. Let me take one for the team."

"If he hurts you, I'm gonna bury him."

The history teacher grinned faintly, kissing her hand before pulling away. "Yes, of course. Please avenge me, Erie." Arming herself with a metal baseball bat, she put on her bravest face, reaching the door. Using the peephole, she saw

She put down the bat immediately. "Oh thank GOD, it's just Billy and one of the Daves."

Erie checked her messages again, then started laughing. "My vision's so damn fuzzy. Oh man. He literally said he was coming over with 82. Fuuuck…!"

"Why did it have to be now…? Did he say?"

"Alice? Is that you?" Before Erie could answer, Alice instead heard Billy from outside. "Is this a bad time?" Yes, actually.

"We thought that if we showed up after the, uh… Others did, it'd feel less hectic?" 82 added, and although Alice didn't know him quite as well (and was close to collapsing by this point), she could sense that there was probably more to it than that.

"Look, getting the stories from… 132 Daves, give or take?" The history teacher glanced back at Erie, who gave her a thumbs up, "Took a lot out of us."

"Ah, right. My apologies." Billy replied, and like always, he meant it.

"Would tomorrow work better?" When 82 proposed this, Alice felt relief well up.

"… Yeah. Tomorrow is good. Noon."

"Understood!"
"Understood."

Then, with synchronicity that had to be seen to be believed, the both of them had uttered the word. In her rapidly deteriorating state, Alice fought the urge to crack up again.

"We will see you then. Have a good night." With that, Billy ended the conversation.

"Yeah, you too." She managed. After a few moments, she was about to step away, but was somehow able to overhear something.

"… We are holding hands. I didn't even notice." Billy. But that shouldn't have been strange for them.

"Oh, sorry, sorry; I'll just…!" 82. Was it no longer allowed?

"No, no. It's fine. Let's just go home." And yet, he was letting him.

"Mine?" Like the notion was normally impossible.

"Y-… Yes, that's correct." Almost as if in realization, and deciding to not change his mind.

Finally, 82 paused. "Okay."

They're in a rough patch. So that was it.

It was fascinating, that despite being where they were, things weren't dark. For Viktor, this was observed rather easily, even in his and his wife's predicament. He could not speak, nor her, due to the nature of literally being stuck in their masks. But they could see, hear, and feel.

God, he couldn't believe how much of a downward spiral 1's been on. He's always been confident, yes, but not egotistical. He'd become a madman, and whether or not that was preventable… Viktor wasn't sure.

But where they were at the moment, 1 had undoubtedly fucked off elsewhere. And yet, it was still far from an ideal situation - all around the two Tarwills, were various items, machines, weapons, and a lot of what appeared to be wheelchairs. The walls of the first Dave's school was somehow messier than Viktor's office on a bad day.

Sigh. If he could go back to that fight, knowing that Billy would show up to greatly even the exceedingly horrible odds, things would've gone differently. It wasn't exactly uncommon for Viktor to be a disappointment at times, but this…

What the fuck was he thinking? Oh, right. That perhaps, 1 would find humility through his defensive stance. And yet, his eyes were glowing orange - burning with ferocity. Hatred. It was like their friendship and camaraderie no longer existed.

Hearing his favorite songs on Phonty, and finding a charm to it. Sharing his latest favorite memes, and even if 1 didn't quite get them, he still humored his antics. Suggesting that he announce his biggest changes to the Webspace (of which were many!), hoping it would help him come out of his shell a bit more, and allowing the compromise that he'd pre-record them.

Not once ever understanding how the more advanced code works (and yes, he recognized the irony of that), but trusting him because he always knew what he was doing, always. Discovering a new favorite food, calzones… But wasn't that still technically a pizza? Better than pizza, 1 claimed. Right, right, never doubt him!

And of course, every time he had a procedure, Viktor was the only one he trusted with the postoperative periods. He could still recall them - his head, adjusting to levitation and flight, one eye, the other, his torso, an arm here, a leg there, then whatever remained. During these times, he'd leave Angell, Laura, and Tiara in charge.

That self-assured smile he got whenever he felt in total control of his motor skills again. The rare times where a joke landed for him, learning to understand his more cleverly-devised sense of humor. The moments of smalltalk, casual and serene, paired cleanly with bouts of comfortable silence.

During one of those recovery processes, the Tarwill randomly asked a question. "So, what brought you here, anyway?"

It was a rather sad story, and looking back, Viktor should've recognized the fact that 1 was willing to confide in him to begin with. Why there were no subway systems, despite how some may prefer it over bus or shuttle fare - the very idea had terrified him, aggressively dismissing it. At the time, the only thing the Tarwill could do was not bring it up again, and this added context strengthened that notion. At 1's request, he never told a soul.

Back to the present, the misery was overwhelming.

Viktor🎭 (@VSTROBOVSKI)
(This is all my fault.)

He wasn't sure how he did that. But, it seemed that so long as someone was conscious, it was possible; most likely for accessibility. Who else knew about that, he wondered.

Tiara👑 (@TSTROBOVSKI)
(Yes, it is. But darling, moping isn't going to help.
Someone'll get us out of here. All we can do, is be better.)

Tiara caught on, quickly.

Viktor🎭 (@VSTROBOVSKI)
(Trust me, I won't make that mistake again.)

Tiara👑 (@TSTROBOVSKI)
(I know you loved him. Many of us did.
But he has moved on.)

Or maybe he hasn't, considering 1 didn't break their masks and be done with it. How long exactly was he hoping to contain them?

Still, that doesn't erase what he did. What it took to get there. What he's doing now. After all they'd gone through together, all the times they were there for each other, met with willful disregard.

Something in the Tarwill clicked. How dare 1. That petty, ungrateful bastard. And it was all over one thing.

That one. Fucking. Thing.

Viktor🎭 (@VSTROBOVSKI)
(All just because I wanted to revive them, Tiara.
And if he'd taken five seconds to ask them how they feel about being back, he probably would've felt like the biggest, most colossal dumbass in the entire Internet!
They got to go home! See Aldurra again! Be happy! And yeah, I didn't think it was a good idea to let them fight Alex, but damn did they prove me wrong! They could handle it!
Fucking. Jesus Christ.)

It could've been resolved, but it was the first fucking Dave who chose to ignore him. Every single time.

Tiara👑 (@TSTROBOVSKI)
(And now we're here.)

Viktor🎭 (@VSTROBOVSKI)
(And now we're here!
You're right, Tiara. You're right. I was too soft on him. And I've been for too damn long.
When we get the fuck out of here, I swear to God… I'm done.)

No more olive branches. Only punishment for the wretched misconduct by who was once a very close friend. The label no longer mattered to him, so why should it for Viktor?

Tiara👑 (@TSTROBOVSKI)
(I appreciate the enthusiasm, and believe me, I'm right there with you.
But he's the boss now. And a boss always has their grunts.)

To Tiara's credit, it helped bring Viktor back down from his newfound rage. Once again, she had a good point. The two were always good at balancing the other when necessary.

Viktor🎭 (@VSTROBOVSKI)
(Is he seriously going to keep weaponizing them?
That sick fuck.)

Tiara👑 (@TSTROBOVSKI)
(Yeah, well, his game's always been 4D chess. We just gotta know how to play.)

He would've laughed if he could.

Viktor🎭 (@VSTROBOVSKI)
(No, I'm going to flip the board while he's not looking.)

But how, he wondered.

Tiara👑 (@TSTROBOVSKI)
(That's not a bad idea.
If we can do this…
Why don't we call for help?)

Oh shit. 1 had done nothing about that whatsoever. This would actually work.

Viktor🎭 (@VSTROBOVSKI)
(I love you so fucking much.)

Tiara👑 (@TSTROBOVSKI)
(Love you too.)

And even better, he knew exactly who to call upon. The greatest tactician in the entire domain. Even 1, Hell, even Alex, would be a fool to openly engage against him. Frankly, Viktor should've gone to him a long time ago, even if just for additional defense and security. But his line of work demanded the thorough exploration of the ocean, and the Tarwill, admittedly, dared not disturb it.

Yet, he had to. Better late than never.

Viktor🎭 (@VSTROBOVSKI)
(Captain, do you read me?)

They had a stockpile of weapons and artillery in that otherwise innocuous submarine, and most likely other secluded areas. It was mainly in case the sea had hazardous fauna. But it especially became important once that deplorable demon committed his atrocities. Where else would Billy get fucking mini rockets?

In fact, he had them to thank for Angell's pistol.

Gonzalo⚓ (@CAPTGONZALO)
(Strobovski! You're alive!
What a nice surprise.)

Given his reaction, he must already be aware. He proceeded to tell him where he and Tiara were, but he seemed to know that too. Odd.

Viktor🎭 (@VSTROBOVSKI)
(Hold on. How is it possible that you…)

Gonzalo⚓ (@CAPTGONZALO)
(Informants, of course! Word travels fast when told to the right people.
Anyway, not to worry.
Expect your freedom within the next few weeks!)

Huh. Far enough to reach him, then.

Viktor🎭 (@VSTROBOVSKI)
(Much obliged, Captain. I will be in your debt.)

It almost felt like a bit at this point. Maybe it was. It was hard to tell through text alone.

Gonzalo⚓ (@CAPTGONZALO)
(After that, we will destroy him.
We wish to return the favor, after what he did to Denied.)

Huh?! Suddenly, the Tarwill's composure broke.

Viktor🎭 (@VSTROBOVSKI)
(WHAT DID HE DO TO DENIED?!)

Chapter Text

When Denied awoke, his mind was blank. The recognizable ceiling of Candice's school was the first thing he registered. He thought nothing of it as he sat up, briefly viewing his surroundings. Some kind of hospital-like room, similar to Viktor's infirmary, but wasn't.

On his right-hand side was a large window, allowing sunlight to spill inside. And on his left was the rest of the room, bearing relevant machines, a bookcase on the far corner, fake plants scattered about, and some chairs, all to complete the look.

And, uh. A lot of cards and floral arrangements. Weird.

Sitting in one of the chairs was his dear brother, Billy. Still not quite understanding what exactly was going on, and not really itching to find out, the merman cast him a small wave with a lazy grin. "Heeey, dude."

The well-made robot's gaze, of which seemed to be looking through him, turned alert in an instant. And within moments, he'd closed the distance between them, finding himself wrapped up in his arms. His voice was the opposite of steady. "Denied…! Oh, thank God. Finally, you've come back…"

"Uh… What? Come back?" Denied couldn't hide his confusion even if he tried. "What're you talkin' about? You okay?" From the questions, Billy pulled back, also confused.

"Do you not remember?" Remember what? Denied tried, thinking about it. What was the last thing that happened before he ended up here…

Wait. He felt his face fall. Wait. His earfins drooped, then flared, eyes widening in horror. WAIT. It was all crashing back to him. A glare formed, baring his teeth.

"Oh that son of a BITCH!" He blurted, as he leapt out of the bed he'd apparently been in. There was a strange warmth in his good eye, but it was only slightly distracting. "That MOTHERFUCKER! He set me up! He set me up! And I bet he's SO. PROUD of himself right now, having a GOOD LAUGH over makin' me…!" He was unable to finish his statement, emitting a growl instead. Then, he noticed his outfit - yellow green striped pajamas. "And what the FUCK is this?!"

Billy's cool hand landed on his shoulder. "Your eye is red." By contrast, he deadpanned.

"My WHAT?!"

"Your eye is red," His brother repeated, tone softer. "I understand where you're coming from, but try to not let it consume you." His level-headedness was utterly contagious. Denied took his advice, releasing a long breath. Soon, the weird warmth faded away, and so too did his rage. No, his Rage. Yeah, that.

"Is it gone?" He faced Billy, who nodded. "Okay, good. Fuck. Sorry. I'm so pissed." And filled with many other thoughts, namely the fact that the well-made robot was there with him in the first place. Why, after everything? It didn't make any sense.

And… How was Denied alive right now? The once excruciating pain was no longer there. He recalled Billy's earlier words - "come back". From the dead? Like… Candice and the others did? Ugh…

So not only did he fuck things up for everyone, but they dared to revive him. Maybe it was to answer for his crimes. Except… Billy was being awfully nice to him, all things considered.

"I'm sure a lot of us are, for the same reasons," He was giving him a sad smile. "A lot has occurred since that day, but I think what's most important to know is that it's gotten worse. … Though, that might not be hard to believe."

"No, yeah… I'd actually be shocked if everythin' was better," Denied shrugged, as a question came to mind, one that he dreaded asking. It wasn't like he couldn't check, but he… Didn't really want to. "So, uh… How long's it been?"

"Two weeks, and six days," GodDAMN. "And in that time, I've thought about what you did." Uh oh. "And knowing what I do now, it was the best possible outcome, wasn't it? From a, 'mess of variables and shit'?" Any other move would've led to far less favorable consequences.

"By a long shot," In spite of this, Denied's voice was quieting from shame. "But if there'd been anything better, I'd…" Gone for it in a heartbeat.

"Exactly. Admittedly, at that moment, I felt betrayed. But I have to remind myself that you often think about the big picture. So… I forgive you." Holy shit, that was… Unexpected, and in Denied's opinion, undeserved. Then, the well-made robot became more serious, briefly. "But just so we're clear, I still don't approve of you using it how you did. Never do that to me again."

"Y-Yeah, for sure. That's fair." Okay, this was better. Forgiven, but definitely not forgotten. And yet, it felt like a weight off his shoulders.

"If I may ask, why did you join THRIVE, anyway? Aldurra wouldn't tell me." Of course not. That was the whole point.

"To get Viktor and 1 to make up and take down Alex," Billy blinked, going silent. The merman could read his bemusement. "Yeah, that's literally it."

He faced the wall. His turn to be ashamed. "It's… So obvious. That sounds just like you." And, a bit dramatic.

"Eh, well… It's whatever." Denied soon found his attention drawn back to the floral arrangements and cards. He went to pick up the one that was closest. It was one of those "get well soon" varieties, signed by Gonzalo's crew (likely by proxy of Billy).

His next words were a struggle. "People… Actually missed me."

Billy reached his side again. "Of course we did. You may be a handful sometimes, but that doesn't mean we don't love you." Denied felt tears well up. It was too much. He spun around and clung to him, ugly sobs escaping his mouth.

Taken by surprise, all Billy could do was pat his back. "Um. Are you alright?"

"It's just…!" It was difficult to explain. "After what I did, I didn't think you guys would… Still…!" He shakily took a breath, trying desperately to sound more coherent. "Least of all you, and… Our family. I really thought that was it…"

Aside from Denied's noises, it was silent for a short while. At last, Billy spoke, tentatively. "Oh. Right. Your last message to me. I see now." The merman was held in return, now for the second time, as he cried on Billy's shoulder. "Please don't worry, brother. We would never abandon you."

It wasn't until he calmed, and the two pulled away, that Billy asked one last question. "Do you want some water?" Already in his hand was a bottle of it.

Honestly, even if not for the excessive tears earlier, the merman found he was drier than a desert. Why didn't they IV that shit? Ah, oh well. "Fuck yeah I do."

He proceeded to chug nearly half of its contents, not noticing when someone new entered the room. "You done?" It was the demon himself, tone slightly annoyed-sounding. His vest was in tatters, and yet he still wore it.

"H-… Hey, Aldurra." Denied grew a bit nervous again, able to imagine what kind of pathetic sight he must've witnessed while he was out. Then, before he could say anything else, he was lifted off the floor, at Aldurra's eye level. And shaken.

"You crazy blue bastard! What the Hell were you thinking?!" He scolded him, ignoring his yelps of surprise. "You should've, I donno, pretended to forget! 'Oh shit sorry, was that today? Goddamn, my bad!' Or whatever bullshit you could pull!"

"Go easy on him. He's still recovering. … Emotionally." Billy retorted, with an edge of firmness. It was enough to make Aldurra stop flailing the merman around, at least.

Gathering himself again, Denied conceded, "No, he's got a point… Fuck, why didn't I think of that? I even told him, 'You woulda LOST if not for me' and shit! Imagine if I just didn't show up! He would've been FUCKED!"

His brother humored this train of thought, adding, "While you're absolutely right about that, it can't be helped now." Yeah…

From all the commotion, more characters appeared as Denied was set down. At first, it was Candice and Olivia. The latter managed a smirk, greeting, "Welcome to the club of the undead."

"Olivia, please…" Candice murmured with unease.

"That's a good way of puttin' it, though," Denied, on the other hand, agreed. "Undead… Spooky."

Then, there was Dave 119, who seemed to have been notified somehow. "Hey, Denied! It's so good to see you up and around again! How're you feeling?"

He was devoid of that cursed pendant, leading Denied to begin suspecting that something was amiss with THRIVE. Please let that be true. "Uh, better? Yeah, better. Also, angry as shit, 'cause like…"

"Tell me about it! I didn't think… You-know-who, could be so cruel!" Ah, okay. Good sign already.

There were a good handful of people now, but that paled in comparison to the last batch of folks to appear. The merman thought there was an earthquake - until he realized that it was actually Uncle Gonzalo and his crew (and one new person, a player who looked exactly like Text from Text's Basics), storming through the building and into the room. Denied and everyone else yelled out as they were swept up in their collective, massive embrace, and he probably could've drowned in it.

Wait, how did they get here?

"DENIED!" Gonzalo's voice thundered with triumph, not caring that the six of them were at his mercy, "IT'S ABOUT TIME YOU WOKE UP!"

"Inside voice, Captain," Dad said to him, "We are on the surface, after all."

"Oh my God," Denied wheezed, "I. I'm gonna die again. Fuck…"

"Perhaps this was a bad idea…" Billy confessed in a similar manner.

"You did this?!"

"I did not think there would be so many of us…"

"You asshole…!"

"Ah- Captain Gonzalo?! Oh goodness! Ahaha, how nice to see you again!" 119 remained cordial, despite struggling to speak.

"What? Which one are you?" Oh for fuck's sake, Uncle.

"119, sir!"

"Ohhh, right! Haha, you too!" Then, he grumbled in Lithuanian, "'Him again? Goddammit, why couldn't it have been 82?!'" He was sort of right. Where was Dave in all this?

Finally, Aldurra had enough. "RELEASE US, NOW." The words held that certain layer of persuasion, which thankfully worked like a charm. Those who were encased in that otherwise bone-crushing "hug" collapsed to the floor.

"Whoa!" The captain took it in stride, laughing. "That was astounding!"

"Don't make me do it again." The demon rolled his eyes with a growl.

Gonzalo tsked, unruffled by the threat. "You seem fun."

As it turned out, Billy wasn't lying when he mentioned that things got worse since 1's takeover. There was now general unrest among some of the residents, especially the Daves; 119 was just the tip of the iceberg. The only good thing was that Alex was finally, finally dealt with, locked away in his own realm, which he apparently stuffed inside a bundle of notebooks?! Code was weird, man.

Currently, a bounty was going on, for that Baldi Denied met. The merman's hunch had been right - he found him too special to simply let go. As it was still ongoing, it was presumed that the professor was safe.

Except, the Baldi 1 was looking for, apparently wasn't the same one that met up for that Alex fight. "There're two of them?!" Denied couldn't help but blurt, but luckily he and Billy were alone. At his new house. Because it burned down.

Oh, yeah, that's right. Almost forgot. To most people, the outside wouldn't seem noticeably different, because there's no way in Hell Billy wouldn't use purple, but for Denied, he noticed it. First of all, it was a lot smaller, more like… Well, a house, and not a school-sized building trying to be a house.

And if that weren't enough to give it away, it also had a decked-out, front-side veranda; a table, chairs, even a swinging loveseat. Fuck, Denied was getting kinda jealous now.

As for the interior? Even the most layman would be able to tell that it was nothing like what they'd come to expect from the well-made robot - white sandstone walls, with the wainscoting, moulding, and supports colored purple (of course). Dark hardwood floors, paired with, you guessed it, purple rugs. Not in all rooms, however.

Also, Denied was pretty sure there were more plants than before. And speaking of, the new side garden bore a set of familiar-looking terracotta tiles. If Denied were to guess, Billy might've gotten inspired…

"Damn…" Denied had spoken his awe. "You've really outdone yourself this time…"

"Thank you," All the while, Billy's demeanor on the whole thing radiated confidence, with an undertone of smugness. But in this case, both weren't uncharacteristic of him. "You know, Sam dared to doubt me. She paid for it dearly."

The merman had to hold back his laughter after that comment. He did, however, manage to hide his face. "Uh-huh. Yeah. I bet."

Anyway…

"Indeed," Back to the moment, his brother nodded. "I was just as surprised. Though, I will say that if not for him, Alex would've killed us; there's no doubt in my mind. He calls himself Plus, and he is truly something else."

"Yeah, sounds about right! Do ya think I'd be able to meet him?"

"I don't see why not. In fact, I think it might be inevitable." These statements were paired with a hopeful grin. It was nice to know.

Something about the story reminded Denied of something. "So, uh… How's Dave?" And at the question, Billy's smile disappeared instantly.

"He's… Fine." Oh, shit.

"How bad is it?" The merman grew worried. "Like… For a guy who lost half of his body, he's still gotta be doin' better than I was, right?"

Quickly, Billy turned to him, correcting, "No, he's perfectly fine. Like it never happened. Do you remember that house project he wanted to do?" Denied nodded. "Well, it, and he, are made of nanites now. So everything regenerated."

At first glance, that sounded incredible. Now no one in their right mind could mess with Dave. But then, why was Billy so… Upset by this? Wait… Oh.

"And he never told you…" It was a guess, but a correct one, as his brother nodded solemnly. The pain in his eyes was immeasurable. "I'm sorry, dude. Look, I get that. But hey, there's plenty more fish in the sea! You'll be fine!"

"Oh, no, we're still together," Billy shook his head this time, but it was becoming more and more apparent that he'd much rather talk about something else. "We're trying to make things work. It's… Complicated."

It wasn't easy to say whether or not that was a good thing. If it would be better for them to break up, it wasn't like Denied was going to be against that. But Dave was his friend too, and while nothing might happen, it was possible that things could get awkward (or outright bad). Not just with him, but the family as well. Ultimately, however, nothing but their happiness should sway such a decision.

Regardless, he caught on to the unsaid message, patting Billy's shoulder lightly. "Gotcha. Hey, so ya know how 1 wants that Baldi? I met him! He can even speak Lithuanian! Isn't that the coolest shit ever?!"

Much later, Denied was roped into what Uncle called, "The Plans!", although considering its subject matter, it was more like a "sign me the FUCK up" kinda deal. With the entirety of the crew present inside the anchored submarine, he listened as Gonzalo went over the details. However, for them, it seemed more like a rehashing.

Through The Plans!, they would retrieve the masks of Viktor and Tiara, which were hidden away within the walls of 1's school. As much as Denied would've liked a chance to actually attack him, that part of The Plans! was a mere distraction.

Conducted by Gonzalo, Shy Worker, and Dad.

"And miss out on that?!" He griped. It'd been surprisingly easy to fall back into familiarity, almost like nothing has changed. Weird, but also… Nice.

"Yes, unfortunately," The captain sighed as he played along, "But we are in dire need of someone who knows how to get inside undetected." He pointed right at him. "You get to lead the rest of the crew until you find those Tarwills!" Well, shit. It still happened, but the new spin on it sounded… Pretty cool, actually.

"And to communicate, we will be using…!"

Gonzalo⚓ (@CAPTGONZALO)
(The private chat feature!
If for some reason any of you have no idea how to use it, you better figure it out now, or you're not going!)

The merman felt like he recognized this, but it was a challenge to place how. And in his case, he's not sure if he's ever had to before.

But then, almost like magic, he found it - in the deep recesses of the domain, viewing it like the mind's eye. Strings of letters, words, numbers, symbols, forming a language he only vaguely understood. Yet, the method itself was surprisingly simple.

MediterraneanWaves🦈 (@DENIEDCELLAR)
(no peeking!!!)

"Very good!" Uncle nodded in satisfaction, then brought out two pairs of dog tags, showing them to Denied. "Now, the most important part. Tensions are high, and our emotions may be, too. So, it will be required to wear these. Present yours, now."

Denied saw them do so - and next to him, Billy had to loosen his tie, but he had one all the same. "I won't doubt that 1 will be able to figure me out. And for ol' Sydney here, allow me to explain. Quite simple, really."

"Everyone in the Webspace has something called a PURPOSE - it defines the core facet of our being. Whether it's to UNITE, or to ADAPT, or to SUSTAIN… In little ways, we act on it, even if we don't realize it. But some, like me, can elevate them into their more powerful forms. Mine is called NAVIGATE, and it can become EXPEDITE."

"And when that happens…" He paused, his eyes lighting up with blue-glowing irises, followed by every pair of dog tags in the room. "It allows the wearers to keep calm, focused. Even in the face of danger! Don't think it affects players though, but it's still neat!"

The changes reverted. "But as for you, Denied, you get to pick which one you would like. Choose wisely!"

One of them was labelled, "DENIED CELLAR", the other, "DENIED LĖ". Dad and Billy's last name. For a moment, the merman sat there, processing the whole thing. But once he was able to, the decision was immediate.

And then, from in the crowd, Dad immediately stood up. "Denied Lė! I knew it! All of you owe me 500 Manei!" With a groan, the others reluctantly began to pay up. Including the captain himself, who appeared the most displeased. Meanwhile, Dad's laughter filled and echoed throughout the room.

What the fuck. They were betting on this? His gaze turned to his brother, who wasn't doing the same. With a straight face, he said, "I had no involvement."

It was days later. Stars speckled the nighttime skybox, street lamps being the only sources of light. A gentle breeze whistled and rustled the air, a sensation that'd become nonexistent until recently. From atop the front gates of 1's school, undeterred by the barbed obsidian due to their tough boots, Captain Gonzalo stood with his fellow distractors - Bob and Worker. The rest of his crew, guided by Denied, should be in position at any moment.

Bob🎩 (@BOBLĖ)
(I'm certain he's already noticed us.)

Gonzalo⚓ (@CAPTGONZALO)
(Let him. It'll make it easier.)

After a few minutes, his merman of a nephew spoke up.

MediterraneanWaves🦈 (@DENIEDLĖ)
(ok, were here
at your signal)

With a new username and everything. Glancing at Bob, Gonzalo was able to catch his faint, but prideful smile. Bet aside, he was happy for them; honestly, Denied had always told others to not include his old surname when introducing himself. So a change like this was practically inevitable, and the captain was only being a contrarian to give his best friend a hard time.

And while he paid for it, literally, it didn't actually matter in the slightest.

Gonzalo⚓ (@CAPTGONZALO)
(Excellent!
Robertas, make the call.)

In his hand appeared a sleek, black rotary phone; functional even without a plug. He held the receiver, dialing the number. The captain listened to the ringing tones, then the ensuing conversation once their collective foe picked up.

"Hello, 1," The well-made builder greeted, dryly, "I trust that you can see us already, so I'm going to give you one last chance to redeem yourself. Either you hand over the Tarwills, or we turn your entire building to rubble until we find them. The choice is yours."

Silence. Bob's grip on the receiver tightened. "Answer me."

"It would be wise to stay in your lane." At last, there it was.

"You forced our hand."

"Elaborate."

"You know what you did." Gonzalo gave his shoulder a slight squeeze, hoping that he wouldn't have to elevate this early, in order to keep his nerves settled.

"Oh, I see. The Strobovskis are secondary to you. This is about that scummy fish you call a son, isn't it? Well, I hope you realize that he brought it upon himself."

"'Keep it together. He's trying to piss you off.'" Gonzalo whispered. He should've made the call himself, but Bob had insisted…

"And besides, I don't understand why you're still upset about that," The first Dave was continuing in the meantime, "Shouldn't you be happy that he's been torn away from whatever afterlife there might be for us? While that alone sickens me, it's even more frustrating that you have the nerve to be angry over an issue that no longer has any meaning. Stay in your lane."

It took a moment, but Bob managed to regain focus. "Then, we are unable to come to an agreement. Heed this: When you decided to make Denied's armor cosmetic, you should've considered the repercussions. I hope that when you perish, Viktor does not bring you back." He hung up, firmly. His voice lowered to a mutter, pinching the bridge of his nose. "'God… Fucking… Asshole.'"

"'You good, Shipwright?'" Soon, his friend recomposed himself, telephone put away. Bob removed his glasses, replacing them with contact lenses. Why now, and not before they left? But Gonzalo resisted the urge to say that aloud.

"'Indeed,'" With a breath, he nodded. "'Let's continue.'"

The captain returned it, then faced Worker. "'You're up.'"

"'Finally.'" He tabbed to a rocket launcher, not his, but Gonzalo didn't mind him borrowing it. He took aim at where 1's office was in that building, and fired. It flew true, reaching its target and blasting the wall open, a most wondrous sound filling the air.

Gonzalo couldn't stop smiling. "'Good shot! Now, get ready, both of you!'"

EXPEDITE mode, and not a moment too soon. Before the smoke could clear, a swarm of orange backswords cut through, heading right for them. They dodged, weapons drawn as they landed on the astroturf. Gonzalo's dog tags, glowing blue like his eyes, enlarged and became more like a flail, with a long, extendable chain.

Nearby, he could see similar instances occurring with his group - Bob's pistol a canary yellow, Worker's harpoon gun a spring green. The three of them, and their imminent combatant, would fight, sail, and glide like neon lights.

Neither of the captain's allies had arms that changed into larger, deadlier forms, but that wasn't a bad thing. Their best attributes lie in function, not style - Bob's rounds didn't affect his teammates, and Worker's harpoons couldn't miss.

After more anticipation, their foe appeared, speeding toward them, armor donned. Perfect.

Gonzalo⚓ (@CAPTGONZALO)
(We've lured him out! Get to it!)

Denied didn't hesitate as he led the crew inside, and before long were searching the school for clues. Try as they might to stay undetected, the chaos outside made it next to impossible. 1's entourage was going to intercept, and that would only create problems.

So an even bigger fight broke out. And unfortunately for the first Dave, numbers weren't on his side anymore. To be fair, only roughly half of his ensemble could participate. This could've easily resolved into a "hand them over and we'll spare you" situation, if not for

Oh, shit. Cell. Those motherfuckers deserved a lot more credit than they were given, looking back on that day. If the Alien Hall Monitors and Gotta Sleeps and MONOTOR-0s failed, or if the Daves were starting to falter, the Cells put the score right back to even. Of course, it was easy to forget them, as only a handful were in that coup.

But even just one of them spelt trouble. And one is all that bastard needed.

Quickly did Alien, ScientistRobot, and Gotta Sleep back off, upon the arrival of the black and red stickfigure of an entity. Oh God. Oh shit. Oh fuck.

MediterraneanWaves🦈 (@DENIEDLĖ)
(uh, uncle
what do ya know about cell)

Gonzalo⚓ (@CAPTGONZALO)
(He's more of a threat than the rest of 1's grunts combined.
He can change your very code. And I've heard that it's horrifically painful.
Whatever you do, do not let him touch you.)

They were so screwed.

Sprays of orange, yellow, and green had already filled the area. Backswords striking bullets, deflecting harpoons, and vice versa. Despite the three on 1 (pun fully intended), the current leader of the Webspace was keeping up with them quite effectively. But whether or not they defeat him here wasn't as important as keeping him busy.

When there was an opening, Gonzalo would rush in swinging, though most of the time only managed to latch onto one of the many blades 1 conjured. But if he remained too close, the first Dave, in turn, would look for an opportunity to behead him. They both knew how imperative the captain was in this bout, and the lapse of focus, no matter how short, would be more than enough to turn everything around. Just like in that coup he heard so much about.

And Gonzalo wasn't a Tarwill; he cannot simply retreat into a mask and reform later. His salvation would be left in the hands of fate. He knew of the fairy who could revive anyone, but how would it work in this case? An interesting thought experiment indeed, except… There was absolutely no way he would use himself, or his crew, as a guinea pig.

At some point, 1 caught on to the ruse. "You would ambush my ensemble to get what you desire? You putrid band of bottomfeeders. I will personally lay waste to you and the others, starting with that abhorrent seabeast!"

He made a break for it, and Gonzalo thought fast. Finally did his weapon find purchase, stopping 1's flight. "You're not going anywhere!"

Nearby, Worker swapped to his corded harpoons, managing to embed one into 1's shoulder pad. Now their enemy was truly tethered in place. "Not as long as we live!"

In this situation, Bob had a clear shot, but he held off. He looked 1 right in the eyes, no longer phased by his barbs. "And if we die, we'll still be loved. You, on the other hand… Your memorial's not looking too bright."

The guy only used that small handgun primarily, but he may as well have launched another rocket and hit him point blank. Ha. Like father, like son.

Cell didn't start attacking immediately. Instead, to the crew (and interestingly enough, only the members of 1's game inside the building), he spoke.

Cell🛡️ (@CELL_1)
(I know where they're hiding. But your intentions are unclear.
How can I trust you to free them?)

Faintly, there was the sound of metallic typing. The merman's earfins perked and faced its source. It was coming from… Silver's room. But Denied thought for sure he moved out long ago. What was he doing here? Anyway, Cell responded to him.

Cell🛡️ (@CELL_1)
(Yes, they're all here.)

More typing. Cell made a face.

Cell🛡️ (@CELL_1)
(Uh. Yes, even him. I thought you didn't like him.)

More. Who was Silver talking about?

Cell🛡️ (@CELL_1)
(Dang, really? With… With how many?)

More. The previously serious demeanor had completely shifted, now being… Just the opposite. And in the midst…

Gonzalo⚓ (@CAPTGONZALO)
(What's going on in there?)

Well-Made_Account🧤 (@BILLYLĖ)
(He seems to be talking to Silver.
Other than that, I have no idea.)

Cell, however, ignored this.

Cell🛡️ (@CELL_1)
(Oh my God. I wish I could've been there to see that.
Okay well, what about the rest of them?)

By this point, everyone from Denied's side could do nothing but listen in.

Cell🛡️ (@CELL_1)
(Got it.)

With an arm-sweeping motion, the crew disappeared, leaving only him. And Billy. Panic would've arisen in the both of them, if not for the captain's elevation.

MediterraneanWaves🦈 (@DENIEDLĖ)
(dude
what the hell?)

To their surprise, then relief, Cell moved over to a wall on the ground floor, pointing the same arm at it. Like the merman had seen at least a few times, something came out, texture changing from the titanium metal to the translucent orange of the Tarwill Container, the two masks still inside.

Cell🛡️ (@CELL_1)
(Relax. I just sent them home. They don't need to see this.
But Silver trusts you two. Hm, speaking of…
Spike. Dave is still distracted. It's time to No-Clip.)

HoloSpike?!?!♻️ (@SPIKE_1)
(Yes sir!!!)

The hologram of a character appeared promptly, flying to Silver's room. Meanwhile, Cell took the Container, and handed it to- Billy?! Well, it was basically a coin flip at this point, but the entity had done it with zero hesitation. In turn, the well-made robot quickly became preoccupied with studying it, as well as the Tarwills inside.

The metallic giant was phased through his room's door, guided by HoloSpike. Cell jumped onto the second floor's open hall to join them. His hand touched Silver's arm briefly, and he flinched.

Cell🛡️ (@CELL_1)
(One second.
… There. Chat features have been restored.
Now, if I were you, I'd hide out with one of the Future Daves. They'll make sure he never takes you away again.)

Then, Silver was hugging them, as well as the rest of the cast, once they made their way up there.

SILVERBULLET☄️ (@SM)
(THANKS GUYS
I WILL MISS YOU THOUGH
WHAT IF I JUST)

Cell🛡️ (@CELL_1)
(No. You can't risk getting caught.
Plus, he'll only tighten security afterwards.
Please, stop taking it upon yourself to deal with him. You tried, and you couldn't reach him.
He's… Beyond saving.)

There was a lot more to the conversation, but by this point, Denied nudged his brother, gesturing towards the exit with his eyes. With a silent nod, he followed. But considering the way things turned out, Denied felt that it'd only be polite to announce their departure.

MediterraneanWaves🦈 (@DENIEDLĖ)
(ok were just gonna leave now bye)

Well-Made_Account🧤 (@BILLYLĖ)
(Thank you for your cooperation.)

A bit rushed, but it worked.

"Welp, I got kicked out, I think," Text nonchalantly noted, as his character spawned at his home. In a room at his computer club, next to him, Blossom was playing the game as well. Glancing over at her, he asked, "What're you up to?"

"Decorating my apartment." Yeah, that checked out.

"Can I see?" Text made Sydney venture out into the complex's hallway.

"Yeah!" Next door was Blossom's. He had Sydney knock. She giggled. "You can just look at my screen, Text."

"Nah, that's no fun." Text chuckled back.

"Oh, fine." The door opened for him, and he entered. The interior was quite bright, airy; like her teahouse in almost every way. Warm. Welcoming. Just like her.

"It's so pretty!"

"Thanks! I think it's really coming together."

"It does kind of suck, having to have separate apartments." Text commented, as Blossom's character, who she named Haruki, served him tea and cake. Her avatar looked nothing like her, the opposite approach that Text took with Sydney - a fair-skinned lady with brunette hair in a pair of buns, wearing a sleeveless, flowery, spring-green dress. An approximation of Blossom's design for when she used to be alive.

And Sydney, to be fair, was still donning that earthy-colored naval uniform. It was like he just returned from war - except the war kicked his ass.

"Aw, you wanted to be roommates?"

"Would that be weird?" Partially, he was asking himself that question. The previous statement did seem a bit out of nowhere.

"Not at all! Actually…" Blossom paused, in thought. "Have you decided? If you want to live there or not?"

Text had Sydney indulge in the refreshments provided, sitting in one of the chairs in the main room. "I mean… I keep going over the pros and cons. We could stay here, and never have to leave our players. We can still talk to the fangames, but they'll keep thinking we're Humans. And I'm not sure about this yet, but it doesn't seem like our characters can die. But… Does it beat us actually being there?"

"They'll know who and what we really are, and maybe they won't mind that," He continued, "They won't have to pretend as much around us anymore. But Usagi and Hitoshi… How often do you think they'd come see us? Plus, Internet permitting - unlike here, they'd have to be online…"

"And we could die. For real," Blossom had listened carefully to every point Text made, getting Haruki to sit across from him and nod along. "Not to mention our friends and cohorts. Their views on it could be even more mixed than ours. Or, they might really want to go, but we're the indecisive ones. I understand."

"Yeah… What were you thinking?"

"That we could share houses." That would be lovely. Slowly, Text reached a hand out to her's, holding it gingerly.

"I'd like that." He expected her to pull away, but instead, she returned the gesture. Maybe she felt the same.

After a moment, she asked, "How about the balcony?"

The view was immaculate - one could see the whole ocean, beach, and boardwalk, all the while hearing the quiet ambiance of waves hitting the sand. Of course Text wanted to see what Blossom did with hers. "Oh Hell yeah!"

Chapter Text

1's mind was still reeling from recent events. Those chumps shouldn't have been as agile and battle-hardened as they were, and yet he was now without his Tarwill prisoners, and one character short. Did they capture Silver? No, he quickly realized - his former student was at #56's school.

But how did he leave? What did that backstabbing merman say or do to convince his poor ensemble to release Viktor and Tiara? Worryingly enough, they refused to answer. Whatever wounds they had were superficial and were gone by the next day, so the ambush wasn't nearly as violent as once believed.

He recalled Silver's statement from the day of the coup, how none of them wanted anything to do with THRIVE. Could it be that they were now sabotaging him? And, like the metallic giant, he likely wouldn't be able to convince them back to his side.

Was he ruling by fear? Impossible… Impossible. It had to be. It had to be. Or else, he'd have to…

Regardless, how could Cell sit in his office so calmly, drink his tea so casually, as if the incident was a mere accidental spill on the floor. But he was the only one who replied. "There was… A very compelling argument made."

With no further elaboration, no matter how much 1 tried to keep his attention on him. "Anyway, don't worry about it. We obliterated them before, we can do it again. As many times as it takes before they fold. The hardest part isn't taking over, but maintaining power. I'm sure you know that."

"… Of course I do." The first Dave's words were almost a grumble. Cell remained unfazed, dipping a cookie in his cup, then eating the entire treat in one bite.

"You know, it's a nice day. I think it'd do you some good to go outside," He finished, getting up to depart. "That's what I'm doing. See you, Dave." An unsettling urge to bury him into the floor entered 1's mind, because there had to be more to it than how the entity claimed. He was too smart to be fooled by the likes of…

But that would just peeve Cell off. And if Silver was strong but unrefined in his fighting skills, then Cell would obliterate him in an instant. 1 found himself very lucky that he hadn't already. Or… He really had been tricked somehow, and 1 was overthinking it. He hoped that was the truth. Please let it be.

"Good idea. I think I will." Not for the reason Cell was implying, though. Even if 1's growing suspicions were incorrect, he was going to need more help.

It went awful. Some Daves shut their doors in panic the second they saw him, while others didn't open up at all. He could overhear how they ushered their characters into hiding, as if he were some lowly criminal, and not their leader. 46 let him inside to talk, but pretended to polish his sledgehammer the entire time, no doubt as a threat.

"You really think we'll come to your beck and call? Are you dense?" He'd retorted the second 1 made his desires clear. "Sapphire, could you kindly show him to the door?" A shared stare from the mineral in question could freeze someone in place, and normally 1 wouldn't have fallen for it. But in the very next second, he collapsed to the floor. He felt himself being dragged. "Thank you!"

1 was thrown several meters off the property, and only then did he regain mobility. He looked back to see 46 pridefully giving Sapphire a pat on the arm. "Good throw! Now, who wants ice cream? I got moose tracks!" The flavor was stated in a singsong manner.

"Oh, me! Me me me!" It wasn't just the royal blue gem who replied, but also 46's Tristan from inside.

"Okay, okay! One at a time!" 46 chuckled, letting Sapphire back into the house. Then, he glanced over at 1, still sounding sweet as he warned, "And 1? If you come anywhere near me, my house, or my pals again? I'll make sure you regret it! Goodbye now!" And shut the door.

56 wouldn't talk to him, and to be fair, 1 saw that in particular coming. 77 had urged the more adult characters to take his Ruby, Tristan, and… 99's Gold, to safety. He tried telling 99 himself about this, but his only response was said with disgust. "Yes, I knew that. But it's none of your business. Go away."

"I cannot, in good conscience, help you anymore. Please leave." 110 carefully turned him away.

119 pretended to not be home (poorly, as he kept yelling aloud, "Nobody's home!"), and 134 pretended that he had no idea who he was. And both methods worked, annoying 1 enough into leaving on his own.

This couldn't be happening. How was it possible that none of his fellow selves were willing to aid him? He remembered a consistent detail among the Daves he did see, and none of them wore their pendants. It was because of what he said about them, wasn't it? Perhaps he shouldn't have let that bit of information slip, cathartic revenge against that blue menace be darned.

But then, their collective attachment to him might've done it. As much as he firmly disagreed, the others viewed Denied like family, and no amount of "He never believed in our cause! I had to get rid of him! For everyone!" would've changed their minds.

1 had to face the facts. It was horrifying, almost to the point of breaking down, nausea nearly overwhelming him. How had he messed up this badly? By doing what he had to? What felt necessary? And it was enough to scorn every single Dave?!

Except… There was one left. It was a far-fetched idea, but it might not be too late to convince him…

"Dave. Can we talk?" It came out of the blue, but somehow, almost expected.

From on the sofa in his home, in the arms of his partner (albeit estranged as of late), Dave didn't answer at first. All he could think about was, why now? Couldn't it wait? Couldn't they have one, final, good moment together first? Before it came to an end?

But that was the selfish part of him, that refused to let go. He had to quiet it. Hush, now.

Staring at nothing in particular, he kept composure as he replied, "Of course. What is it?"

Billy's going to make it official. Dave knew this was coming from the start. Trying to make things work just delayed the inevitable. "There's something I need to tell you."

"Go ahead." It was harder this time. He remembered that dream with Dia and Alex, and how, even in the face of death, he'd been able to stay calm. Why couldn't that happen here?

Then, suddenly, he felt Billy turn his head. Dave looked at him, finding his gaze pointed behind the sofa, at the hallway, where… Oh dear. Dia and Spike were trying to be discreet, but he could see them. The well-made robot spoke, with the smallest of glares, "I really wish someone would stop eavesdropping."

And the other two sped off as fast as they could, into Dia's room. The brief levity allowed Dave a small smile. With a blink, Billy then faced Dave. "That wasn't it."

"Oh, no no, I figured."

"I'm not sure how to put this delicately, so I will just say it," It's over, Dave. He couldn't imagine anything else. He gave Billy an understanding nod, and he announced, "I'm getting the feeling that you don't want me around."

"Wait, what?" Dave's immediate thought was said out loud.

"You periodically mention how I shouldn't hesitate to leave, if I believe it to be the better option," Billy took this reaction as confusion, elaborating, "But you're usually so forward about any issues you may have, so I don't understand why you won't just… Say so."

Dave… Didn't mean to imply that, at all. It was quite complicated to explain, but he had to try. "Gracious, no. Billy, it isn't that I… It's… I keep thinking about how much happier you could be, without me. I don't want you to feel like you have to…"

Billy tilted his head, in thought. "I see. Please pardon my bluntness-" He paused until Dave nodded again for him to continue, "But I know that I don't need you." Ow. Dave almost felt the sting in his heart from that one, but was miraculously still able to decipher it - like being impaled by a frozen blade.

And Dave wouldn't have complained. It's karma.

Billy must've noticed Dave's reaction, because he added, more quickly, "Uh. Not like that! The point is, I don't feel trapped, and you don't make me feel trapped. I'm aware that I can choose to separate. I don't need you, but I want you. Does that make any sense?"

Honestly, Dave was still trying to recover. Billy's psychic damage was so, so potent; he'd nearly forgotten. "Y-… Yeah. I get it."

He was pulled in closer, but what surprised Dave was the soft peck he felt on his cheek. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have said something that could sound so terrible. … And no, you didn't deserve it." At this point, it was like he was reading his mind. "Anyway… How do you know for certain? Are you sure it's not your guilt talking?"

To be fair, it wouldn't be the first time. Usually it's whenever Dave messed up badly in the past. "No, Billy, it's not you, it's me", "I've been awful to you about this", "It's all my fault, you didn't do anything wrong", and so on. Once, he finally had to admit that there'd been a very good reason why he arrived at the Webspace as a rogue. And meeting Billy didn't magically change him.

Dave did his best, but sometimes his worst traits would come back. Granted, he was much better now, obviously still not perfect by any means, but he wasn't the monster he was before. Even so, the well-made robot hadn't been exempt from dealing with the brunt of things on occasion.

And he hated himself a little more for it every time. Started to wish that Billy would just ditch him already

"Oh, God. You're right," Dave blurted, partially to shake off that train of thought. But what he was saying wasn't a lie, either. "This- This always happens…"

"Indeed," Billy agreed, but more obviously in a supportive manner, "I really wish you would stop giving up on yourself." Is that what he's been doing? … Ah, he absolutely was. And it wasn't helpful. "I must ask: Do you want to stay together? Yes, or no."

Yes, he immediately thought. Of course he does. But would that be selfish?

Remember how you, deep down, wanted to go back to the status quo? His inner voice commented. If you actually try, you can end up in a similar situation. But you need to work for it.

It's true. It's so shamefully true.

Then stop moping around, and for God's sake, don't leave him in the dark ever again. No matter what.

Okay, okay! He knows… Okay.

Dave took a breath, to prepare himself for his reply. "Yes. I do."

"Then…" Billy pulled back, so they were looking at each other once more. "If you are able to put this… Notion, aside," Dave could swear he wanted to describe it as "ridiculous" or "absurd", or something like it, but refrained. "Things between us may improve. I'm willing to trust in you again, but it would also help if you proved it to me, like you told me you would that day."

Dave had been so determined then. It shouldn't have gone away. He gathered his courage, taking Billy's hands into his own. This is what they both want. There's no more room for self-doubt. Make this work. Make this work.

"'No more secrets'," He recited, then added, "I won't back down anymore."

In turn, Billy gave him a somewhat devious expression. "You better not. Or else, I will be very disappointed." Dave couldn't stop himself from laughing, but given how the well-made robot grinned, it'd been intentional.

Once he'd managed to settle down, however, the both of them began to hear something.

"Oh, thank FUCK. I was getting worried there for a sec." Language, Dia.

"Was he for real? Since when was he like that?" Spike. The two were whispering.

"Since, uh… Forever, I guess? I've only been here for, like, two months."

"Jesus Christ."

"Yeah, I bet you feel like a dipshit now, huh?" Two.

"Meh."

"You- You stubborn jackass! What the fuck's it gonna take?!" Four. And there'll be more.

Now they weren't exactly trying to be quiet. However, all Billy did was shrug it off. "Huh. They still heard everything… And it appears that Dia doesn't want me to go, as well. I appreciate that." His smile was softer.

"That's a good point!" Dave replied, more chipper despite the current circumstances. "Spike, though… He probably needs more time. Speaking of, would you help me separate them before-"

There was the sound of diamond breaking. "God DAMMIT, that was my ARM!"

"Dude, you're the one who attacked me! I can't help it if you-" Spike was cut off by Dia's shriek, Dave and Billy now seeing pure white light leaking out from the closed door. "You KNOW that doesn't work on me!"

"LEMME SEE THOSE SHADES, THEN!"

"No way, you shiny jerk!"

"… We have our work cut out for us." Billy commented.

"But together, we can do anything!" Both he and Dave left the sofa, Dave holding out his hand. It sounded silly to say, but he couldn't resist.

"That's right," Billy nodded, taking it into his own, both giving a squeeze. "Let's put an end to this."

As they approached the door, Dave tabbed to his toolbox, pulling out something. "Sun goggles, check!" A second pair was given to Billy. Ever since Spike showed up, Dia had started using his brightening skill a lot more often, almost always because of him. It became a semi-regular activity, de-escalating their fights.

Strangely, it was nostalgic. Back in the early days, before Dave's behavior took its toll on the young gem, Dia was as fierce as typical Diamond Men were. Dave could recall how Dia used to roughhouse with Spike, PlayRobot, and sometimes even challenged the faculty.

Including Sleeps, who, in seconds, made him do exactly that. Allen? The alien hall monitor was practically impervious to damage where Dia was concerned, waiting until he wore himself out before sending him to detention. Error? Well, he'd simply ragdoll himself and phase through the walls after a single punch, likely just to play along. And Dave himself? It was only one time, and it was an arm-wrestling match. After thirty seconds spent retaining position with minimal effort, Dave had decided to end it with a swift pin.

He regretted how he taunted him, though. Sometime later, he ought to apologize.

The context of today wasn't great, that couldn't be ignored, but for Dia to be beginning to reach that point, which seemed long-gone… Of course, Dave couldn't rule out the possibility that it would only show itself when he wasn't there, but for him to witness it again…

No, it was comforting.

"Check. I am prepared," Back to reality, Dave heard Billy, the two having donned the goggles. Then, he added, "You look so happy. It's been too long." Oh gosh. Dave could not let himself get flustered. Not now, at least.

He managed to hold it together as he replied, "You too." He went to open the

Only to hear a knock from the front door. Both recognized it at once, and Billy was first to bring it up. "This is the worst possible timing."

"We don't have to answer," Dave tried to dissuade. "Hopefully, he'll take the hint."

To Dave's chagrin, he did not. He must've phased right into his house, because his voice emanated from the living room. "82, I must speak to you immediately. It's urgent."

Dave saw Billy raise his arm, bullet barrel forming. He pushed it down, shaking his head. Reluctantly, his partner listened, reverting the change. "Not yet." He mouthed, and that was all Billy needed to understand.

It was then when he realized that his home was deathly quiet.

Resolving the petty squabble of a Diamond Man and a Spike could wait. Surely, anyone would get that. Soon, 1 heard 82 wheel into the room, followed by… Billy. Great, a two-for-one deal, if he could make it work.

"If this is about Viktor, save it," Came the Dave's reply, "I don't want to hear it. Especially from you."

"Ah. I see that I don't need to explain. That's good," So, 1 nodded to himself. "Well, then I suppose I also don't have to mention the danger we're all in, currently. For as soon as Strobovski is ready to strike, we're done for."

"No, you're done for," 82 corrected, crossing his arms. "I don't see how this should have anything to do with me. And I'm not sure how you haven't noticed, oh great leader, but we haven't been happy since your grand takeover."

"Time will quell those fears. But only if Viktor is stopped. And to do that, I require aid."

"Then look for it somewhere else. Get out of my house. … Again."

"Dave. Could you imagine another Alex situation? Viktor kept that thing alive, and he probably still is! If it had been up to me, I would've had him executed on the spot. All of the misery you and everybody else went through could've been prevented, and he didn't allow it."

No rebuttal this time. He was finally getting somewhere. He turned to Billy next. "And you. You of all people should know how much of a fool he was, entrusting you to Alex's confinement. I can only imagine the extent of the psychological mayhem that was dealt at your expense. Viktor should've rejected you. It's so… Aggravating, how lenient he was."

"Why are you bringing me into this? I thought this was about Dave. Who, if you missed him saying it the first time, wants you to leave. I will not tell you again." Not there yet. Keep pushing.

"Because, you have been involved with him in the past. And thanks to your… Relatives," 1 held back a sneer, "Viktor will come back to make our lives miserable all over again."

Billy stared at him, blankly. "I know. I was there. I even figured out how to free them. It was surprisingly not difficult."

Silence. "Billy, maybe you shouldn't have said that part…" 82 was muttering.

"Oops. You're right."

The nerve of that pretentious automaton. 1 was trying to get it through his thick, metallic skull, and Billy just… Siding with the enemy (or well, his family) was one thing, but this was flat out spite. Like it or not, 1 was in charge now, and he will not stand for such blatant insolence.

He entered THRIVE mode, wielding a pair of backswords. Before either of the other two could react, he severed both of Billy's arms, then used the blades to skewer him into the nearest wall.

"You miserable android," The one word that he always wanted to say to him finally came out. "Do you not comprehend what's at stake here? Are you trying to bring about the end of life as we know it?! Why, if not for Dave's feelings for you, I'd put an end to yours right now!"

"That does it!" He overheard 82, turning to see him pull his wrench out. "You've crossed the line, 1. I don't need my house to take care of you. I can do it myself!" He raised it, and then… Nothing happened. He was straining, but it was like something was holding him back. "What… Why… You're doing this to me, aren't you?! Let me go!"

1 took a moment to look into it. "Oh. That time Alex cut you in half. You decided you weren't recovering fast enough, so you used nanites from your house cube. They must've spread across your body evenly by this point. Do you remember what I said about that?"

A look of horror set on 82's face. "No… Wait… No…!"

"Well, don't despair just yet. Theoretically, you could still try and beat me senseless. But you'd have to expel those nanites first. Problem is, I don't know if there would be enough remaining to keep you conscious." 1 pondered it. "Maybe, but barely. But also keep in mind that you may appear… Scary, until your body fills in the gaps."

"Dave," Billy cut in, his tone carrying an edge of uneasiness. "You don't have to do that. He just said he isn't going to kill me."

"I know, Billy. I know," 82 lowered his weapon. "But I don't care. I'm done listening to him." He emitted a yell, as pixels swarmed off of his body, and 1 wasn't sure if the process was painful or just uncomfortable. Once none from the relevant source remained, he attempted to attack again, having to hold the wrench with both hands. However, it was easy for 1 to deflect.

And 82's forearms snapped right off, the rest of him crumpling to the ground. Many parts of his body had atrophied - pockets, holes, even whole chunks were missing. He lay there, struggling to move, or do anything, really. And this time, his noises were undeniably that of pain.

"Dave…" The android's voice was soft, quivering, as he briefly fought against his restraints. But of course, it was in vain.

"I didn't think you'd actually do it," Meanwhile, 1 noted in awe. "I've… Never seen such ferocity in a Dave before. Not even from…" The Unchecked. "Say what you want, but this was more than just defense. This was Anger."

"Of course he's angry," Then suddenly, Billy turned appalled, "You barged into his home and incapacitated me. You expecting any other kind of reaction is insanity."

1 groaned, a little too loudly. "No, you twit. If it were that simple, he would've been FLOURISHing, because I would be getting in the way of seeing you at your highest potential. But he wasn't." He pointed. "See? No orange wrench! This is something else. Something far more concerning."

"I hate that I'm asking this, but what are you implying?"

1 didn't answer, too busy reading 82's code to check for something. Strange. There was the right amount of lines, which should've equated to a balanced harmony on both sides. But for every encounter 1 has had with him, every story he's heard, only one of the halves was actively guiding his actions.

The Angry half. Where in the world was Tutor in there?

"Oh, my God," He couldn't hold back his shock. "It's all so clear to me now. He wasn't at risk of becoming Unchecked. He's…" Despite the situation just minutes ago, 1 had to tell Billy the truth. "His merge went wrong. And before you say something like, 'But he's a single Dave', I mean his Tutor and Angry selves. You know, like how you have yours."

"Give me one good reason why I should believe you."

"The Dave you came to know and love is just Angry, Billy. And chances are, he's so guilt-ridden that he's been trying to be like a Tutor. He can try, of course, but ultimately, the worst aspects will always triumph, because his actual Tutor half isn't pulling any of the weight."

The android didn't say anything back, but he was thinking. Meanwhile, 82 tried even harder to sit upright, and it was honestly a pitiful sight. The urge to tend to him was overwhelming, even outweighing the entire reason he came here to begin with.

If need be, 1 will handle Viktor alone. 82 was clearly unwell, and Billy wasn't about to budge anytime soon.

"I… Should've done this from the beginning, but I got too caught up. My apologies, Dave." Internally, he had 82's house pull out the now extra nanites, neatly feeding them back into the places they inhabited along his body. And soon, the physical agony ceased.

Even so, he was panting, from what he had experienced.

"I believe the best course of action is to re-separate them," 1 then said, "At least until they can agree to cooperate."

"N-No…! You- You can't, I don't…!" That poor Dave. He hasn't realized the gravity of the issue yet.

"It's for your own good. I promise you that it is," 1 replied gently. He took him by the arm, tabbing to his teleporter. "As soon as I'm done, I'll bring them both back. You have my word." He didn't wait for a reply, using it on himself. The two Daves ended up back at 1's school.

As 82 was still recovering, 1 used the opportunity to fly him over to a door. It was special, for it was able to take characters to personalized, pre-generated living quarters. And to enter someone else's, permission needed granted by the owner.

Under this methodology, every Dave and their associates were able to shelter here during Alex's escape.

Dave was gingerly set down on a bed, doing everything he could to process what he just let himself do, how excruciatingly painful it was, that he'd managed to not pass out from it, and- hold on, where was he now? A moment ago, he was home…

"Ah, drat. I forgot something," 1 tsked to himself. "Well, it would be too embarrassing to go all the way back for it, so you can use a spare." He floated out, the door left open, and quickly returned with a folded up wheelchair, setting it on the bed in front of Dave. "There's also a soundproof button on the nightstand, but you'll still be alerted if a visitor arrives. You can't deny me, though. I own the building." Oh no. He was at his…

Not again. Except, of course, he couldn't remember it.

"Anyway, you're staying here for safekeeping. I realize this seems pretty petrifying, but I assure you that you'll feel so much better in the long run. I'll summon you when I'm ready to start your procedure. And if Viktor shows up… Well, let's hope that doesn't happen. Anyway, I'm off to make the preparations. Hang in there, Dave."

He left, door shutting behind him. Dave was at a loss for words. Once he gathered his bearings, he unfolded the wheelchair given to him, speeding over to the door, only to find it locked. No. Oh no. Oh God no.

What was he talking about? His inner voice asked out of nowhere, sounding just as frazzled. How should Dave know?! Usually his conscience had the answers! That's why he listened to it!

He can't separate your selves. He can't. He shouldn't. It won't help.

No kidding.

We can't go through this again.

What? "We"? Dave waited, but it silenced itself. Whatever, he didn't have time for this. He looked into his inventory, and at least he still had his remaining items. He selected his phone, but his hands were shaking too much to type. He glanced at the nightstand, finding the button that 1 mentioned. He pressed it, an LED lighting up, reading "ON".

Then, he braced himself for the call he was about to make.

The minute 1 had left, the backswords holding Billy in place vanished, and he nearly fell over. He promptly ejected what little remained of his arms, but that was about all he could do, unless he had a bit of help.

Asking either of the teens wasn't what he had in mind. Too bad he couldn't prevent them from cautiously exiting Dia's room, and finding him in his unfortunate state.

"Billy, you okay?! Goddamn, he really tore into you…" Dia spoke, helping to keep him from losing balance. It was rather easy, given how even the young gem was taller than him now. Sigh, such is life.

Also, he must've already put his own appendage back into place, for he appeared completely normal.

Spike lightly nudged Billy's severed arms with his foot. "Can they, uh… Be reattached?"

"I'll be fine, don't worry about me," The well-made… Robot? Android? He wasn't sure anymore. Anyway, he assured them both. "Not those, they've been damaged. But I have spares." But if he were to try and select them, they too would simply tumble to the ground. Unless they would spawn in his mouth…? Too weird.

But they caught onto that, the shades-wearing boy attempting to reach into his inventory for them. Ah, that'll work.

The replacement arms lacked the synthetic skin, but it was better than nothing. One of his changes was to account for the sheer frequency of his opponents targeting them, and so being able to replace them mid-confrontation would surely give him an advantage. Unless his enemy was 1, who managed to see through it right away and lopped off both.

"Thank you, both of you," Still, he told them once done, stashing away the old pair, as they could easily be salvaged later. "Now, I have to go bring Dave back. Please stay here."

"We wanna help!" Dia declared. Billy could appreciate his courage, but…

"Hold on, 'we'?" Spike objected.

"Absolutely not. I forbid it. It's far too dangerous." Billy briefly considered using his current self to prevent them from trying anything, but would that just be showing a lack of trust?

"Please!" Dia ignored Spike, pleading. "We won't get in your way, we swear! It's just- I feel like shit, y'know? I could've blinded him or- or distracted him, or SOMETHING! I won't freeze like last time!"

"The fuck are you talking about, Dia." That rainy day, where Billy was jumped by Aldurra. It almost felt like ages ago.

"C'mon, back me up here!" Desperate, the young gem turned to Spike, who clearly had no intention in doing so.

"Okay, hear me out: What if that guy is onto something?" No. Or… Was he? It was so conflicting. "Remember what Error said? He also thought Dave's merge went badly. And Error knows his shit! So maybe he does too!" Even through the refractions distorting Dia's expression, Billy could see it contort as Spike went on. "Look. All I'm saying is, this could finally be his chance to be fixed."

"… You're sick, dude." Was all Dia could say in response.

"Me?! I didn't hear you complaining back then!"

"Well yeah, 'cause I was too much of a scared little bitch to say anything! But I can speak for myself now, and that asshole is just scamming us, since, guess what? People can change."

"Regardless of Dave's condition," Billy brought up, hoping to dispel things before it got out of hand. "Experience has also shown me that 1 is untrustable. I will not allow him to proceed with this."

"Thank you. Holy shit." The young gem's relief was immense.

"But you're not going with me. Neither of you are. You will stay put, and that's final." His tone was only a little firm, but it was enough.

Soon, Billy was off. Luckily, 1 hadn't struck where his jetpack was, so he was able to fly as usual. Then, he got a call. From Dave.

He answered immediately. "Dave! Are you alright? He didn't hurt you, did he? I'm on my way to get you."

His partner's voice was shaky, holding back tears. "For once, I can't argue with that. He's locked me in a room somewhere, I couldn't- I couldn't focus on where we were going, I… Billy, I'm sorry. I didn't know, I really-…"

It broke his metaphorical heart, hearing him like this. "No, it's fine, don't worry. In actuality, it explains so much… Assuming he's right, obviously, but still."

"I- Call me crazy, but I'm starting to think he is, and it's. Terrifying. You know that 'inner voice' I sometimes mentioned? I don't think it was an inner voice. It's… It might be…"

"Tutor?"
"Tutor."

The realization was said at the same time. "I see."

"And if 1 separates us, good lord…" Dave paused to settle his nerves. "I- Well, Angry, me… I'll just be a wreck. Tutor might be, too - he's not used to… Doing things anymore. I-I hope I'm making sense here."

"You are, you are," Billy quickly replied, "No matter what's going on with you, I'm not going to allow 1 to do this. We can figure this out together, later, when you're ready to. And no matter what that brings, I'll be there, okay?" This time, he had to stop to collect himself.

"I love you, Dave. Every part of you, big and small. I love you."

He could hear Dave crying, but the well-made… Machine, for now, could tell that it was happy tears. "I love you too, Billy. All eighty pieces of you."

"Eighty?"

"Forty Tutors, forty Angries. Though, I realize that some of the Tutors were more like… A memory." His counterparts from 11 Years Later. Very true. Billy couldn't help but smile.

"Yes, that's right. Eighty, then."

" … What if something happens to you? What if he destroys you anyway?"

"If I don't make it, then…" Billy could only think of one thing. "You have my permission to repair me. Someone will save you."