Constants & Variables - Act 2.19

[nobrandhero]

Read on Dreamwidth under the cut, or over on AO3.

----

As far as the countdown to some unknown critical event was concerned, they'd reached the final hour. The short time limit seemed almost comforting instead of foreboding anymore, with John and Dave trapped in close proximity with Daveglitch. At least it seemed a decent indicator that, whatever happened, there was only so long they would be stuck in those circumstances.

Rose tried not to feel guilty for leaving them alone with such a dangerous captive. It was hard to completely abandon her worry, but she and Jade both had tasks ahead of them far bigger than any dangers in the immediate present. The boys could take care of themselves for that long. (She hoped.)

It felt almost like a waste to spend the last of their time chasing after a doomed Time player, but she couldn't shake her Seer instincts that this was the most fortuitous path to take. She wondered if her powers could be wrong, for as long as it was taking to track down Aradia.

TT: No luck?
GA: Not Yet
GA: Are You Able To See Her With Your Alien Technology
TT: She's not replying to my attempts at communicating with her. I don't know if I've chosen a poor spot on the timeline or if she's ignoring me.
GA: It Wouldnt Be Odd At All If It Were The Latter
GA: She Can Get Caught Up In Her Work Sometimes
TT: It's always possible she's died. Your session is large enough that it wouldn't be surprising in the slightest if no one had come across her body.
GA: All The More Reason To Find Her Before Someone Else Does
GA: Karkat In Particular Does Not Need To Watch Her Die All Over Again
TT: Crap. Jade hasn't come across her either and the boys aren't in a good position to give me a rundown at the moment.
GA: Exclamation Point
GA: She Just Replied
TT: Now?
GA: Yes She Says She Hadnt Been Present In Our Current Time Until Just Now
TT: Where is she?
GA: Shes
GA: At Tavross House For Some Reason
GA: Oh Never Mind That Was Foolish Of Me
GA: It Makes Sense That Her Siblings House Is The Closest To Her Own
TT: Will she talk with us?
GA: It Appears So But Her Reply Speed Leaves Much To Be Desired
GA: I Will Go To Meet Her In Case Thats Quicker Than Instant Message
GA: Im Filling Her In On Recent Happenings Now

Kanaya didn't even have to be told to hurry. She darted for the nearest Gate to LOSAZ, landing safely on a balcony built onto Tavros's incomplete hive. Rose could see Kanaya call out before deciding to descend to the ground level.

Aradia was by the alchemiter, still decked out in her God Tier ensemble, and alchemizing as fast as the machine would work. She moved with purpose, throwing aside glitched alchemized items so quickly it was clear she could tell which ones would come out as they should and which were infected.

TT: May I speak with her?
GA: She Claims To Be Busy Preparing For Something And Thats Why Her Pesterchum Is So Inactive
GA: Shes Packing Apparently
TT: Packing? For what?
GA: Shes Not Being Forthright On That
GA: I Am Scolding Her
GA: It Has Little Effect So Far She Does Not Seem Terribly Concerned That Our Sessions Are Falling Apart
GA: Its Quite Irresponsible Of Her Though
TT: Will she speak with me through you?
GA: She Thinks She Can Manage To Multi Task To That Degree
TT: Well, this sounds tedious as fuck, but if that's what it takes, fine.
TT: Can you ask her if she found any evidence in her doomed session that it's possible to access reality again from the medium?
GA: She Thinks She May Be Stating The Obvious When She Points Out That Skaia Has Portals During The Reckoning That Do That
TT: That WAS obvious. I've been trying to formulate a plan that might utilize them in your session.
TT: Our Reckoning, however, is over. I'm fairly sure Skaia is done with us at this point, even if we were to throw a blizzard of meteors at it.
TT: Does she have a slightly less obvious suggestion up her sleeve, or did her doomed session lead nowhere that the alpha hasn't already tread?
GA: There Are A Couple Secret Ish Tricks That May Be What Youre Looking For
GA: But She Says Its Irrelevant Now
GA: Our Session Cant Utilize Them
TT: But can ours?
GA: Ill Check
GA: She Wants To Know If Your Time Players Planet Is Still In One Piece
TT: All of our planets appear preserved. It's just the NPCs that have suffered, so far.
GA: Then Yes
GA: You Need To Be Able To Access The Scratch Construct On Your Time Players Planet
TT: "Scratch Construct"?
GA: It Should Be A Very Large Device That Doesnt Quite Match Its Surroundings And That Has Proven Useless In Your Quests So Far
TT: That's...
TT: Well. Actually, I may know something that fits the bill.
TT: Dave's planet has a giant goddamn record called the Beat Mesa sitting in the midst of gears and lava.
GA: Then She Says
GA: Ill Try To Condense This Properly
GA: She Says That Your First Option Is To Scratch The Session
TT: I believe she mentioned that phrase before. What does it even mean?
GA: If You Cut Into Your Time Players Scratch Construct With Something Of Powerful Enough Substance
GA: It Will Send A Signal To Skaia To Reset Your Game Session To The Beginning
GA: With The Caveat
GA: Your Current Session Will Become Less Than A Doomed Timeline
GA: And You Will Cease To Exist
TT: ...Well then.
GA: This Does Not Seem Like An Ideal Option To Me
TT: Perhaps as an absolute last resort. But even then, I'd call it a maybe.
TT: The cost hardly seems worth the reward. We might as well just accept our fates and perish, if the only other option is to never exist at all.
GA: She Says It Is Likely Your Only Chance Of Completing The Game
GA: The Only Other Option Will Bar You From Ever Winning
TT: Our endgame door is destroyed. I wasn't optimistic about finishing anymore to begin with.
GA: In That Case She Says That The Scratch Construct Has A Lesser Utilized Function
GA: If You Can Dislodge It From Its Pedestal
GA: You Will In Essence Eject The Game Permanently
GA: And Be Returned To Your Ruined Home Planet
TT: That's... hardly a gratifying future. But probably better than no future.
TT: I need to weigh the advantages of that strategy.
GA: Do You Need Anything Else From Her
GA: She Says She Cant Stay In Any Time Period Within The Medium For Too Long Without Risk Of Her Doomed Status Catching Up To Her
TT: Does she have any other advice that could help us? Specifically anything she discovered in her doomed timeline that isn't common knowledge here?
GA: Yes But I Dont Think Youll Find It Helpful
TT: What did she say?
GA: Dont Get Possessed
TT: I think she just stated the obvious again.
TT: But I also think I don't want to imagine what happened in her timeline.
GA: How Fortunate
GA: She Does Not Wish To Speak Of It Either
TT: I am honestly not sure if you're attempting sarcasm or not.
GA: No
TT: Got it.
GA: Wait Did That Sound Sarcastic Too
TT: A little.

Aradia alchemized a new weapon, threw it into her sylladex without even examining it, and backed away from the alchemiter. She gave Kanaya a wave, then disappeared in a flash of red light.

GA: Is That It Then
TT: I don't know.
TT: That was hardly the deus ex machina-like solution I was hoping for, but I'm not sure what else we could expect.
GA: Karkat Just Contacted Me
GA: He Wants Everyone Still Alive And Unpossessed To Meet Him In The Veil
GA: All Four Of Us
GA: Is That All Right Or Will I Be Greatly Inconveniencing You If I Join Them
TT: I won't ask you to give my team priority over your own, Kanaya.
GA: Are You Sure
GA: I Do Not Think It Would Be Harmful To My Team If I Were To Pursue Something Beneficial To Your Team
GA: We Are In The Same Boat Rose
TT: Honestly, I'm not sure what else we can hope to accomplish at this point anyway.
TT: We're out of time, both of us, and we're out of leads.
GA: I See
GA: Then I Guess Theres Not Much More I Can Accomplish For This Game
GA: Is There Even A Point To Carrying This Genesis Frog Anymore
TT: I don't know. But I hope so.
GA: Then
GA: Thats A Good Enough Reason To Keep It In My Inventory I Think
GA: I Should Catch Up With The Others
TT: Just so you're aware, optimistically, this may be the last time we speak within your session.
TT: Less optimistically, this may be the last time we speak, period.
GA: So I Should Say Any Last Words Now
TT: If you have any, at least.
GA: I Do Actually
GA: For As Much As This Game Was A Burden Full Of Unnecessary Tragedy
GA: I Did Enjoy Getting To Meet You At Least
TT: I...
TT: I can't in good conscience so much as imply that our meeting was "worth" all of this game's bullshit, but...
TT: Your company has been a large source of comfort.
GA: Thank You
GA: I Wish You All The Luck Rose
GA: Please Stay Safe
TT: You as well.

-- grimAuxiliatrix [GA] ceased pestering tentacleTherapist [TT] --

Rose let her hands fall from the keyboard with a sigh. "Jade," she said, "how's it going on your end?"

"It's a bit up in the air still, but so far it seems possible to get the humans safely to our session," Jade said, her eyes glued to her monitor as she typed up a storm. "What about you?"

"Well..." Rose scrolled up on Kanaya's chatlog, rereading Aradia's advice to make sure she understood it before passing it on to someone else. "I'm not quite sure on how to execute either scenario, but I now know how to wipe ourselves out of existence or strand us on a destitute Alternia." She forced a smile. "Which sounds more appealing to you?"

Jade paused, raising her head and staring at the Genesis Frog in the distance. "I'd like to go home again."

* * *

TG: so
TG: the hell are you even up to anymore
GC: 1DK
GC: C4NT YOU S33 TH4T CMOOON D4V3 YOUR3 TH3 ON3 W1TH V1S1ON H3R3
TG: uh yeah about that
TG: im kinda using my computerized shades to talk to you right now
TG: and im not really sure when i can snag a proper monitor with the real estate space for a viewport again
GC: HOW COM3
TG: evil glitch version of me attacked
TG: had to save my bro
TG: caught the asshole in a time trap so he cant move
TG: which conveniently uses up both of my hands and more energy than i wanna think about right now
GC: 3W
TG: so yeah im just stuck here staring at my own creepy mind controlled face for the foreseeable future
TG: hows your day going
GC: MY FR13NDS 4R3 D34D
GC: 4ND 1M K1ND OF SUSP3CT1NG MY S1S-MOM D13D TOO BUT 1M NOT R34LLY F33L1NG L1K3 4SK1NG 4NYON3 TO CONF1RM TH4T :\
TG: ok you win worst day award
TG: your trophy will arrive whenever i have free hands to send it
GC: D1DNT YOUR P4R3NT D13 TOO
TG: maybe
GC: 1 TH1NK W3 C4N PROB4BLY SH4R3 TH4T TROPHY
GC: YOUV3 GOT JUST 4S MUCH BULLSH1T R41N1NG DOWN ON YOU 4S 1 DO
GC: N31TH3R OF US D3S3RV3S TH1S CR4P
TG: uh
TG: about that
TG: i kinda do
GC: DONT B3 STUP1D NO ON3 D3S3RV3S WH4T TH1S G4M3 PULLS
TG: nah ysee this things actually my fault
TG: his fault too technically i mean he hadnt split into his doomed timeline yet when we fucked up
TG: so
TG: our fault
GC: :?
TG: confession time i guess
TG: i took advantage of a glitch when making your genesis frog
TG: thought i was just taking a shortcut
TG: guess the code got mangled instead and you got a buggy and infected copy of sburb out of it
TG: so yeah
TG: the glitch and all the shit surrounding it
TG: thats on me
GC: OH
TG: sorry
GC: TH4T 3XPL41NS 4 LOT
TG: yep
TG: guess you know who to exact sw33t just1c3 upon now
GC: ...TO B3 HON3ST D4V3
GC: TH1S DO3SNT N33D TO GO TO COURT 4NYMOR3
TG: what youre dropping the lawyer shtick now
TG: dont give enough shits to bother prosecuting me anymore or have i sufficiently wooed you into showing me mercy
TG: i dont think you should be letting your emotions guide you when it comes to dealing out justice
GC: 1TS N31TH3R OF THOS3 3X4CTLY
GC: BUT 1 TH1NK SK414 H4S 4LR34DY 3X4CT3D SW33T JUST1C3 UPON YOU
GC: 4ND 4 HUM4N COURT C4NT TOP TH4T PUN1SHM3NT
TG: ...
TG: guess its tough to argue that
TG: when its staring me right in the face
GC: 1NT3NT DO3SNT 4LW4YS M4TT3R 1N 4 COURT OF L4W
GC: BUT 1T ST1LL M4K3S 4 D1FF3R3NC3 TO M3 TH4T 1T W4S JUST 4 STUP1D M1ST4K3 4ND NOTH1NG M4L1C1OUS
TG: youre right though intent doesnt really matter here
TG: we are fucking screwed both ways because of me and aint no amount of oops didnt mean to do it is gonna fix that
GC: :[
GC: 1 TH1NK W3 4LL M4D3 4 LOT OF M1ST4K3S 1N TH1S G4M3
TG: maybe
TG: mines still the root of it
TG: you couldnt grow all those leafy mistake branches without me as the base
TG: sure there are outside influences like gotta get just enough water and hope no wild lusus come to chow down when the mistake tree is just a sapling
TG: but at the end of the night that towering piece of mistaken plant wouldnt have sprouted without my influence at the very start
GC: H3Y COOLK1D
GC: SHUT UP FOR 4 M1NUT3
GC: 1 DR3W YOU SOM3TH1NG 4W3SOM3 TO CH33R YOU UP
-- gallowsCalibrator [GC] sent turntechGodhead [TG] the file "CH3CK1T.jpg" --
GC: S33? 1TS JUST L1K3 YOUR DUMB COM1C
TG: terezi
TG: this is a bunch of scribbles
GC: D4MN
TG: its fucking beautiful
GC: :]
GC: OBV1OUSLY
GC: TH3R3S MOR3 WH3R3 TH4T C4M3 FROM TOO
TG: you dont gotta spoil me t-z youve got better shit to do than this
GC: NOT R34LLY
GC: DR4W1NG FOR MY 4L13N BOYFR13ND SOUNDS B3TT3R TH4N S1TT1NG 4ROUND K1CK1NG MY F33T
TG: fair point
TG: and your alien boyfriend is totally worth doing nice things for always
GC: M4YB3 SOM3T1M3S 4NYW4Y
GC: OCC4SS1ON4LLY
TG: ymean always
GC: WH3N H3S H4V1NG 4 B4D D4Y 4ND 1 S33 F1T TO T4K3 P1TY ON H1M
TG: nah you always want to draw him crap
TG: because hes awesome and worth it
GC: 1M B31NG V3RY CH4R1T4BL3 TOW4RDS YOU D4V3 4ND WH3N YOU 4R3 DON3 CONT41N1NG 4 V1OL3NT FR34K 4G41NST N4TUR3 YOU W1LL SHOW M3 PROP3R 4PPR3C14T1ON
GC: 1N OTH3R WORDS
GC: 1 3XP3CT B4CK RUBS L4T3R
TG: well i expect bulge rubs
GC: OMG YOU FUCK1NG P3RV
GC: WH4T 1F 1 S41D Y3S HUH
GC: >:]
GC: > :]
GC: >:]
GC: > ;]
TG: then id put on some nice music and lounge in my hottest pose
TG: be the sweetest eyecandy a blind girls ever not seen
TG: and make you comfortable in turn because what kind of alien boyfriend would i be if i made you do all the work
GC: W3LL W3 C4N G3T DOWN TO TH3S3 L3WD 4CTS 4FT3R YOOOOOU.....
TG: ...
GC: ........
TG: yooooou?
GC: *HOLDS FOR SUSP3NS3*
TG: goddamit it
TG: cmon you what
GC: YOOOOOOOU...
TG: yooooooou...
GC: G4Z3 UPON TH1S M4ST3RP1EC3!!!!!!
-- gallowsCalibrator [GC] sent turntechGodhead [TG] the file "1STH1SYOU.jpg" --
TG: hahahaha wow holy shit you even got my blood color right
GC: OF COURS3 1 D1D
GC: R3D 1S TH3 B333ST
TG: you sure you didnt send me this before or something?
TG: it looks kinda familiar
GC: NO :? 1 M4D3 1T JUST NOW!
TG: oh

Welp, on closer examination, that image on his screen was certainly the same bright red drawing he'd received shortly after getting stuck on the meteor. As in, the same piece of shit that a stranger had sent him out of nowhere that led to Jade tracking down the sender and, voila, check out those twelve weird pink and brown aliens. The file that had paved the way to finding and trolling and working with the humans. That one.

TG: ok so important thing
TG: listen up cos i dont have time to drop this advice on you twice
TG: get ready here it comes
TG: resend this file
TG: but shoot it straight to my username through the menu dont think of attaching it to this log again all right?
GC: WH4T FOR :?
TG: maybe i want to be able to save a copy to another hard drive t-z cmon im working with glasses here shit looks tiny
TG: just do me this favor
TG: ill get it when im supposed to and study it closely and show it to all my friends
TG: it will literally change my life
TG: your art is that incredible
GC: YOUR3 JUST BUTT3R1NG M3 UP SO 1 AGR33 TO TH3 BULG3 RUBS
TG: well obviously
TG: did you send it
GC: Y3S 1 D1D YOU TH4T F4VOR 4ND NOW 1 OW3 YOU Z3RO BULG3 RUBS 4FT3R 4LL WH4T 4 SH4M3
TG: damn
GC: B3TT3R LUCK N3XT T1M3
TG: someday pyrope
GC: SOM3D4Y >:]
GC: H3Y
GC: K4RK4TS 4SK1NG M3 TO M33T H1M 4BOUT SOM3TH1NG PR3TTY CRUC14L 1 GU3SS
TG: oh
TG: yeah
TG: your timelines kinda near the end huh
GC: W1LL YOU B3 OK4Y BY YOURS3LF W1TH YOUR GL1TCHY C4PT1V3 COOLK1D :[
TG: dont worry about me im handling this shit just fine
TG: couldnt find a better guy for the job im just chilling like it aint nothing cos really how much better does it get than standing around with no other obligations
TG: besides im not alone
TG: johns with me
GC: H3 DO3SNT H4T3 YOU 4NYMOR3 4FT3R TH3 VR1SK4 NONS3NS3?
TG: well hes still kinda sore about that
TG: but nah he doesnt hate me
GC: GOOD :]
GC: 1 W1LL L34V3 YOU 1N H1S C4P4BL3 H4NDS TH3N
GC: T3LL H1M 1 S41D TH4T
TG: oh hell no
GC: XP
GC: 1 GOTT4 RUN
GC: 1LL
GC: T4LK TO YOU L4T3R? :[ 1 HOP3
TG: for sure t-z
GC: 1F YOU D13 1N TH3 M34NT1M3 1LL K1LL YOU
TG: ill keep that in mind

-- gallowsCalibrator [GC] ceased pestering turntechGodhead [TG] --

* * *

The countdown only had minutes left on the clock. Rose pulled a chair next to Jade's computer, watching the monitor over Jade's shoulder since she had no trolling left to do herself. Jade shot her a smile and scooted to the side to make sure Rose's view wasn't obscured.

Karkat was pacing the lab in the veil that had sent the glitch to the troll session. He'd dragged Nepeta and Equius's corpses away from the control console, to a dark corner where they could rest undisturbed, and he kept checking Pesterchum as he waited for the others, scowling if the only new messages came from Jade.

"You're sure you can move something that big without harming yourself?" Rose said quietly.

Jade nodded. "It'll be no problem. Besides, we're not even sure we'll have to resort to going near the Beat Mesa, right?"

Rose sighed and shrugged. "At this point, I don't know what to tell you to count on. Other than more shit."

"It'll be okay, Rose!" Jade grinned at her. "We're doing great."

They both fell quiet as more humans appeared on the viewport. Kanaya arrived in the lab first, followed shortly by Terezi. Karkat still didn't stop his restless movements, instead adding "shouting at innocent bystanders" to his activities. Terezi sighed and sat against the wall with Kanaya, probably trying to ignore him. It wasn't until Sollux showed up that Karkat's behavior altered.

He caught Sollux by the arm and dragged him over to the controls. Karkat pointed all over the place until Sollux smacked his hands out of the way and leaned in close to examine it himself. They shared a few more exchanges, Sollux frowning deeper by the second while Karkat fidgeted.

EB: THE SELF-PROCLAIMED GREATEST PROGRAMMER ALIVE (BIG FUCKING DEAL WHEN THERE ARE ONLY FIVE HUMANS NOT DEAD) IS HAVING TROUBLE.
EB: YOU NEED TO CONTACT HIM AND GET HIM THROUGH HIS WHINY PISSBABY CODE BLOCK.
EB: BECAUSE I DON'T UNDERSTAND SHIT ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
EB: AND I DON'T HAVE TIME IN PART BECAUSE FOR SOME FUCKING REASON JOHN IS PESTERING ME?!
GG: no problem! :)
EB: OH MY GOD, IT'S HIS FIRST CONVO AND HE'S REVERTED TO FULL MORON.

-- gardenGnostic [GG] ceased trolling ectoBiologist [EB] --

-- gardenGnostic [GG] began trolling twinArmageddeons [TA] --

GG: hi! :D
GG: karkat probably already told you this, but im jade!
TA: 2ollux. not that iit matter2 for much longer.
TA: can't beliieve ii'm actually talkiing two one of you a22hole2 agaiin.
GG: we are not assholes!
GG: we had ONE asshole on our team and he has been reprimanded
GG: and he is not me anyway!
TA: ii don't actually care whether you're an a22hole or not, 2o long a2 you have a better gra2p of what'2 goiing on than KK doe2.
GG: youre trying to reprogram the destination on the teleporter but it is not being that simple, right?
TA: ii gue22. iit's both 2impler than that and 2tupiidly more compliicated two.
GG: what is going on?
TA: okay, 2o the biigge2t problem here ii2...
TA: thii2 machiine'2 last coordiinate2 are 2et for the end of your 2e22iion, riight?
TA: whiich you've already been through. we weren't there, ii'm pretty damn 2ure.
GG: ohhh yeah that would just make a doomed timeline if you came through then :\
TA: fuckiing exactly. we need two change thii2 2hiit two 2omethiing that won't get u2 all kiilled by paradox.
TA: 2omewhere iin your future.
TA: changiing the tiimiing ii2 the ea2y part though. the real problem here ii2, WHERE the fuck do ii 2et thii2? ii don't know 2hiit about your 2e22iion's coordiinate2.
TA: are we goiing two fuckiing diie iif we 2liip through your endgame door liike the gliitchy a22hole?
GG: that would probably not be a good place to teleport, it is true!
GG: i dont know what would happen since the door is broken
GG: and besides which we are very far away from that right now
TA: you wanna throw me a fuckiing bone here?
TA: ii2 there ANYTHIING ii can lock ontwo?
GG: that you can input from another universe away? :\
TA: no, that ii can't iinput, obviiou2ly.
GG: :p
GG: hmmmmmmmmm...
TA: don't break your braiin there or anythiing.
GG: shhhh
GG: what about......
GG: can you lock onto our chat handles?
TA: teleport u2 two wherever you a22hole2 are?
TA: thii2 program ii2n't 2et up for that kiind of command iin the locatiion 2etting2.
TA: ii'll have iit ready iin fiive miinute2.
GG: :D
TA: when 2hould we aiim two arriive anyway?
GG: umm we have been here a little less than fourteen hours! so definitely set your arrival time at LEAST fourteen hours after the glitch arrived in our session
TA: okay, ii'm goiing two giive u2 a better buffer than that iin ca2e your aliien hour2 are longer than our2 or 2omethiing equally 2tupiid.
TA: ii'm not dyiing by a techniicaliity.
GG: that is a good idea
GG: though for what it is worth, from what ive observed our hours are the same length as your human hours!
TA: probably but oh well.
TA: ii'm already done.
GG: already? O_O that wasnt even five minutes
TA: yeah, ii overe2tiimated. iit happen2.
GG: but youre still typing?
TA: KK and ii fiigured 2omethiing.
TA: the teleporter'2 all ready, but thii2 2e22iion's fucked anyway. we miight a2 well try two wiipe out what we can and make 2ure there'2 le22 two try followiing u2.
GG: how can we do that?
TA: heheheh, leave that 2hiit two me. ii've got a few program2 up my 2leave that 2hould cau2e a decent chaiin reactiion here.
GG: ok but make sure they dont activate until youre all safely out of there!
TA: what kiind of iidiiot do you thiink ii am?
TA: they'll go off iin ten miinute2.
GG: uuummmm that sounds kind of soon to me o___o
TA: nah, ii've got thii2.
TA: everyone'2 gonna be teleported two 2afety wiith plenty of tiime two 2pare.
GG: is there a reason karkat looks so angry right now?
TA: ugh, he thiink2 we 2hould waiit for GZ.
TA: two fuckiing late for that now.
TA: tiime for the wor2t fuckiing part...
GG: debugging?
TA: oh hell no, that'2 ea2y. ii mean abandoniing my code to herd the2e a22hole2 intwo po2iitiion.
GG: oh, heheh :) im sure you will manage!

Sollux pointed fingers and gestured from the humans to the freshly reprogrammed transportalizer as he gave orders, making Karkat prickle in annoyance. Sollux just facepalmed as Karkat stubbornly repeated the same gestures, probably echoing the same orders.

Terezi was the first to hop over to get sent to the new session. Sollux made a couple last adjustments before pressing the button that activated the device. Terezi disappeared in a flash of light and Kanaya stepped up next.

The static in the area was growing thicker. Jade thought at first her viewport was about to grow faulty again, then she tensed as she realized where the static was really coming from: Gamzee had just wandered into the lab.

GG: watch out!!!!

They were more likely to notice on their own before her message drew their attention, but what else could she do?

Kanaya teleported away before Karkat glanced towards the door and froze at the sight of Gamzee slumping closer. Despite Jade's initial reaction of horror -- that Sollux seemed to match, if his expression was any indicator -- Karkat looked almost relieved.

Karkat darted away from the transportalizer, to Jade and Sollux's dismay, and made a beeline for Gamzee.

"No, no, no!" Jade said aloud, as if Karkat had any chance of hearing her. Rose set a comforting hand over her wrist.

Gamzee grew still as Karkat grabbed him by his front. The color of his Blood aspect glowed along his hands as he made contact and static burst off of Gamzee in every direction like an explosion, but it stayed firmly attached and sparked along his body wherever Karkat's hands didn't touch. Gamzee raised his juggling club, aiming it perfectly at Karkat's scalp.

Sollux tossed a handful of metal stars at Gamzee's face. They weren't thrown with enough strength or precision to do any damage, but it made Gamzee falter and that was all Sollux needed to nab the back of Karkat's shirt and yank him out of Gamzee's reach.

Karkat struggled against Sollux, but Sollux hauled him to the transportalizer all the same and held him there, breaking one arm free to throw a book at the control console and hit the activation button. Jade wasn't a great lip reader, but even she could tell that Karkat was calling Gamzee's name over and over. Gamzee just tilted his head.

Karkat was still yelling, his eyes wide in horror, when the teleporter activated and engulfed him in light. Sollux fell back just in time to avoid getting his arms chopped off by the beam as Karkat disappeared.

Sollux stumbled back, simultaneously keeping his distance and keeping between Gamzee and the controls. Gamzee advanced on him, weapons at the ready as static sparked around them.

Jade glanced up at Rose, hoping she had some solution, some strategy that let them interfere before Sollux became the next deceased Sburb player. Rose watched the monitor with a grim expression and shook her head.

Jade almost wanted to squeeze her eyes shut than risk seeing another human's think pans strewn across the floor, but she forced herself to watch in solidarity with Sollux. Staying with him in spirit was the most she could do.

The room glowed in a flash of red light. Before the light could fade, a whip lashed out from it, caught Gamzee's wrist, and flung him against the wall.

Aradia floated in front of Sollux, holding her weapon at the ready. She smiled. Every time Gamzee tried to stumble back to his feet, she threw him back with a flick of her whip.

Sollux darted to the control console, smashing in more commands than it would take to just set up a timed transportalizer activation.

GG: whats going on??? youve got to hurry over here!
TA: can't talk, bu2y de2troyiing thii2 lab.
GG: wait what? D: sollux you need to get on the transportalizer before it is too late!
TA: 2hut up ii need two concentrate! talk two AA.

-- twinArmageddeons [TA] ceased pestering gardenGnostic [GG] --

-- apocalypseArisen [AA] began pestering gardenGnostic [GG] --

AA: sollux said you needed dealt with
AA: im sorry but contrary to prior plans he will not be joining you after all
GG: what??
AA: i rather need his expertise to isolate this session before everything breaks apart and we make our escape
AA: otherwise im sure it would be quite delightful to meet you in person
GG: theres still time! you can teleport with the others!
AA: oh im aware
AA: but we are going to destroy that option soon and break off from your session permanently
GG: what? why??
AA: it is the safest solution for all of us i believe
AA: please take care of my friends
AA: i am rather fond of them and im sad to part enough as it is without worrying for their safety
GG: youre really not going to try to come with them? D:
AA: no
GG: but youre in danger there!
GG: or can you not come because you are from a doomed timeline? are you dead either way? :(
AA: oh dont worry about that
AA: i have plans in the farthest ring that dont involve dying
AA: mostly making sure our dead friends have a nice afterlife
GG: what???
AA: feferi made a few arrangements with the locals after she died
AA: it is quite the welcoming place thanks to her handiwork
GG: she... did what after she died?
AA: i am afraid i cant explain further
AA: we are out of time
GG: wait!!!!
AA: and i believe
AA: so are you
AA: :)

The countdown reached zero.

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