Chapter Text
Night settles over the Foundation’s official very professional base like a lid.
The complex itself sits low and wide against the edge of the city, all hard angles and soft humming electricity. Floodlights sweep slow arcs across reinforced walls. Cameras blink quietly from every corner. The place looks less like a building and more like a carefully engineered no.
Ro studies it from the rooftop across the street. “…You cannot be serious.”
Behind him, Zam adjusts their robe hood dramatically.
“We are extremely serious.”
Pentar peers through a pair of binoculars he found somewhere. “I count sixteen cameras.”
Mapic whispers, “I count seventeen.”
“That’s the same camera,” Pentar mutters.
And Bacon…
Bacon is crouched behind an air conditioning unit eating chips.
Ro turns slowly. “You brought snacks.”
Bacon shrugs. “Energy.”
The ritual team consisted of 4 idiots and a guy:
Zam (self-appointed ritual expert)
Pentar (strategist, according to him)
Mapic (VIOLENCEEEE)
Bacon (hungry)
Ro (the only person with common sense)
Ro rubs his temple.
“Let me confirm the plan.”
Zam nods confidently.
“Yes.”
“You infiltrate one of the most secure facilities in the region.”
“Yes.”
“With.”
Ro gestures.
“The rope, one dagger, and ritual chalk.”
Mapic proudly lifts the chalk.
“It’s high quality chalk.”
Ro stares at the sky briefly as if searching for patience.
Then he sighs.
“Fine.”
…
The outer perimeter fence rises ten feet high and hums faintly with electricity.
Zam kneels beside it.
“Observe.”
Ro already hates that word.
Zam draws a symbol in chalk on the pavement.
A circle.
Then a triangle.
Then something that might be a rune or might be an abstract doodle.
Pentar whispers, “Does that actually do anything?”
Zam straightens.
“It focuses intention.”
Mapic nods solemnly.
Ro steps forward and simply cuts the power line to the fence with insulated pliers he brought from home.
The fence goes quiet.
Everyone stares.
Zam clears his throat.
“Yes. That also works.”
They climb.
Mapic gets stuck halfway over.
“Why is this fence aggressive.”
“Because it’s a fence,” Ro says.
Bacon drops his chips.
They land loudly.
On a metal grate.
The sound echoes.
Everyone freezes.
A spotlight sweeps across the yard.
They flatten themselves against the ground.
The beam passes over them slowly.
Ro whispers, “Do not move.”
Mapic whispers back, “I am extremely still.”
He sneezes.
The spotlight pauses.
Then continues moving.
Ro closes his eyes briefly.
“Miracle,” he mutters.
Inside the perimeter, the Foundation grounds are eerily calm.
Concrete walkways stretch between low buildings. Security lights glow cool white. Somewhere, ventilation fans hum steadily.
Zam gestures dramatically.
“Stage two.”
“What is stage two,” Ro asks.
“Symbolic interference.”
Mapic brightens.
“Yes.”
Ro immediately regrets asking.
Pentar pulls out a small pouch.
“What is that.”
“Salt.”
Ro stares.
“You brought salt.”
“For ritual boundary disruption.”
Ro gestures at the massive surveillance network.
“This is a base, not a ghost.”
Zam ignores him and begins sprinkling salt in a circle.
Bacon whispers, “This feels illegal.”
“It is illegal,” Ro replies.
They creep across the courtyard.
Well.
Ro creeps.
The others attempt creeping.
Mapic knocks over a trash can.
It clatters loudly.
Everyone freezes again.
Ro closes his eyes slowly.
“…Mapic.”
“I didn’t see it.”
“It was the only object in this entire courtyard.”
A door opens in the distance.
Footsteps.
Ro grabs Mapic’s sleeve and drags him behind a ventilation unit.
The others scramble after them.
Two members walk past the end of the walkway.
They pause.
One of them looks toward the trash can.
Ro holds his breath.
The person sighs.
“Probably the wind.”
There is no wind.
But the person keep walking.
Ro exhales quietly.
Mapic whispers, “Stealth.”
Ro stares at him.
“Shut up bro.”
They reach the side of the main building.
A steel door waits beneath a small camera.
Zam crouches again.
“I will disable the surveillance.”
Ro pinches the bridge of his nose.
“How.”
“Ritual interference.”
Mapic lifts the chalk again.
Ro gently takes it away.
“No.”
He reaches up and angles the camera toward the wall.
The feed now shows nothing but concrete.
Everyone watches in silence.
Pentar whispers, “That’s… very effective.”
Ro opens the door with a borrowed access card he lifted earlier from a distracted technician.
The door clicks open.
Mapic whispers loudly, “You stole that.”
Ro steps inside.
“I borrowed it.”
…
The hallway is sterile.
White walls.
Soft lights.
Quiet machinery humming somewhere deep in the building.
They walk carefully now.
Footsteps echo softly against polished floors.
Bacon munches another chip.
Ro turns slowly.
“Stop eating.”
“It’s stress.”
“You are stress.”
Mapic peers around a corner.
“Left corridor.”
Zam checks a printed map.
“This leads toward containment.”
Ro stops.
“You had a map this whole time.”
“Yes.”
“Why were we guessing outside.”
Zam frowns thoughtfully.
“…Dramatic tension.”
Ro exhales slowly.
They move down the corridor.
Doors slide open and shut quietly as members moved from farms
A figure passes by carrying a clipboard.
Everyone presses against the wall trying to look normal.
Which they absolutely do not.
The figure slows slightly.
Looks at them.
Looks again.
Then keeps walking.
Ro whispers, “Why did that work.”
Pentar whispers back, “Confidence.”
…
They turn another corner.
And nearly run straight into Ashswag.
He stands at the far end of the hallway, arms folded, watching something on a tablet.
Ro immediately shoves everyone backward into a supply closet.
The door shuts.
Inside the closet is darkness.
And a mop bucket.
And five people breathing too loudly.
Mapic whispers, “This is cramped.”
“Be quieter,” Ro hisses.
Bacon accidentally drops another chip.
It crunches underfoot.
Outside, Ashswag pauses.
His footsteps move closer.
Ro holds perfectly still.
The door handle rattles.
Everyone freezes.
The handle stops.
Footsteps move away.
Silence fills the closet.
Ro slowly exhales.
“Congratulations,” he whispers. “You almost ended the mission with potato chips.”
Bacon whispers defensively, “They’re good chips.”
They step out again.
Zam checks the map.
“Containment level is below us.”
“Of course it is,” Ro mutters.
A staircase leads downward.
The lights grow dimmer as they descend.
The air grows colder.
Somewhere far below, security systems hum quietly like a sleeping machine.
Mapic whispers, “Do you think she’s okay.”
Ro pauses halfway down the stairs.
“Yes.”
“How do you know.”
Ro continues walking.
“Because if she wasn’t, this building would already be gone.”
That thought settles over the group.
Even Zam looks slightly uneasy.
They reach the bottom level.
A long corridor stretches ahead.
At the far end, thick glass containment rooms glow softly.
Somewhere down there…
Jumper waits.
Ro’s heartbeat finally picks up.
Zam whispers, “We are close.”
Ro nods once.
But then–
Footsteps echo from the opposite direction.
Multiple.
Organized.
Professional.
Not potato chip eating.
The group freezes again.
Ro looks around quickly.
No closets.
No corners.
Just a long, exposed hallway.
He sighs.
“…This mission was doomed.”
And the footsteps are getting closer.
The footsteps echo down the corridor.
Not casual footsteps.
Organized ones.
Ro doesn’t even have to look to know what that means.
Foundation people.
Plural.
Approaching quickly.
Zam whispers, “Remain calm.”
Ro slowly turns his head.
“…How.”
Pentar peeks around the corner.
His face drains of color.
“There are four of them.”
Mapic whispers, “Define four.”
“Four.”
Ro sighs.
“Of course there are.”
Bacon crunches a chip.
The sound is loud enough to echo.
Everyone turns.
Bacon freezes mid-chew.
“…Sorry.”
The footsteps stop.
A voice echoes down the hall.
“Did you hear that?”
Another voice answers.
“Yes.”
Ro whispers very quietly:
“Run.”
…
The group bolts down the corridor like someone kicked over a very uncoordinated beehive.
Zam runs first.
Mapic immediately trips on the edge of a floor seam and pinwheels his arms.
Pentar grabs him and drags him forward.
Bacon runs while still holding the chip bag.
Ro runs because if he doesn’t, they will absolutely die in the first thirty seconds.
Behind them–
Voices.
“Hey!”
“Stop!”
Footsteps accelerate.
Foundation security is now chasing them.
Ro turns a corner hard enough his shoulder clips the wall.
“DON’T TURN LEFT!” Zam shouts.
“Why not?” Ro asks while sprinting.
“IT’S A CROSSROAD!”
“That is not a reason!”
They take the left on accident.
The hallway opens into a wider corridor filled with glass containment rooms.
Lights glow behind reinforced panels.
Security alarms have not triggered yet, but the moment is close.
Very close.
Mapic glances back.
“They’re gaining!”
Pentar wheezes.
“Why are they so fast.”
“They train,” Ro replies.
“They train for this.”
Zam shouts ahead, “The containment chambers should be nearby!”
Ro snaps, “Nearby where!”
Zam waves vaguely.
“Spatially!”
Behind them–
Ashswag’s voice cuts through the hallway.
“Stop running.”
Clown’s voice follows. “No, let them run. This is funny.”
Ro groans.
“Of course it’s them.”
Mapic looks terrified.
“Who.”
Ro answers while sprinting.
“The competent ones.”
They turn another corner.
At the end of the corridor sits a reinforced containment room.
White walls.
Glass panel.
A cot.
Someone inside.
Ro recognizes the silhouette immediately.
“THERE.”
They sprint toward the door.
Behind them the footsteps are closing.
Jepex’s voice echoes.
“They are heading for the containment wing.”
Clown laughs somewhere behind them.
“Wow. Direct approach.”
Mapic skids slightly on the polished floor.
“Door! Door! Door!”
Ro reaches the control panel.
He slams the open button.
The door slides halfway.
Then pauses.
Everyone stares.
Ro presses it again.
The door finishes opening.
They tumble inside the room like a collapsing tower.
Mapic trips first.
Pentar collides with him.
Zam nearly falls over both of them.
Bacon slides across the floor.
Ro stumbles last and grabs the door control.
He slams it shut.
The door seals.
Silence.
Everyone breathes heavily.
Mapic groans from the floor.
“We did it.”
Ro leans against the wall trying to catch his breath.
“Yes.”
Then they all slowly look to the right.
Jumper sits cross-legged on the cot.
Watching them.
Very calmly.
The fluorescent lights above cast a soft glow across the sterile room.
She tilts her head slightly.
“…Hello.”
Zam tries to stand dramatically.
Instead they slip slightly on the polished floor.
Mapic is still tangled in Pentar’s legs.
Bacon finally sits up and brushes crumbs off his shirt.
Ro straightens.
Trying to salvage dignity.
“We’re here to save you.”
Mapic points weakly from the floor.
“Yes.”
Pentar nods.
“Very heroic.”
Jumper watches them for several seconds.
Then she shrugs.
“Sure.”
They blink.
“Sure?” Ro repeats.
She lies back on the cot and folds her hands behind her head.
“I’m bored.”
Silence fills the room.
Mapic whispers, “That was easier than expected.”
Ro turns slowly.
“Do not say that.”
Jumper sits up again.
“You guys took a while.”
Zam clears their throat.
“We executed a complex infiltration strategy.”
Ro stares at him.
Jumper raises an eyebrow.
“Did the strategy involve running through hallways?”
Bacon raises the chip bag.
“…Energy management.”
She nods thoughtfully.
“That explains a lot.”
Ro walks closer to the glass partition.
“You’re not locked in?”
She gestures vaguely.
“The door locks from the outside.”
Ro glances at the control panel.
“…That’s inconvenient.”
Mapic climbs to his feet.
“We have rope.”
Everyone looks at him.
“That does not help,” Ro says.
Footsteps echo outside the containment room.
Very close now.
Zam whispers, “We should leave.”
Ro nods.
“Yes.”
He turns back to the door controls.
“Everyone ready.”
Jumper swings her legs off the cot.
“Ready for what.”
Ro presses the panel.
The door slides open again.
And immediately–
Clown leans casually against the hallway wall.
Ashswag stands beside him with arms crossed.
Jepex stands there calmly.
Minute also stands there, but impatiently.
They have clearly been there for a while.
Clown grins. “Well this is fun.”
Mapic squeaks.
Bacon drops a chip.
Ashswag speaks first.
“You ran through three corridors, knocked over two carts, and hid in a janitor closet for forty seconds.”
Ro blinks.
“…You saw that.”
“Yes.”
Jepex says, “We have cameras.”
Zam tries to recover their composure.
“We intended to be seen.”
Ro slowly turns his head.
“No we did not.”
Minute steps forward.
His gaze shifts between the group and Jumper.
“You came to retrieve her.”
Ro nods once.
“Yes.”
Clown gestures inside the room.
“Well congratulations.”
Jumper walks past Ro and stands beside the door.
“I’m leaving.”
Ashswag sighs.
“That was expected.”
Minute watches her carefully.
“You said you would stay.”
“I said I would stay until it got boring.”
She gestures at the hallway full of infiltrators.
“It got interesting.”
Clown claps once.
“Fair.”
Ro looks at Jumper.
“You’re sure.”
She shrugs.
“Why not.”
Behind them alarms suddenly start to beep somewhere deeper in the facility.
Jepex looks down at his tablet.
“…Now security has noticed.”
Clown grins wider.
“Oh good.”
Mapic whispers nervously.
“What happens now.”
Ro answers honestly.
“…We run again.”
Jumper stretches slightly.
“Cool.”
She steps into the hallway.
The alarm grows louder.
Footsteps echo from multiple directions now.
Ashswag exhales slowly.
Clown cracks her knuckles.
Minute rubs his temple.
Ro looks at the group.
Then at the incoming chaos.
“…This rescue went poorly.”
Jumper smiles faintly.
“I’m having fun.”
And somewhere in the building, security doors begin to slam shut one by one.
The alarm finally commits to its job.
Not a polite beep.
Not a warning chirp.
A full building-wide WAAAAAAAH that sounds like the base itself is having a dramatic meltdown.
Redstone lights begin to pulse along the ceiling.
Security doors start sliding down in the distance.
Ro stares down the corridor.
“…Great.”
Zam claps his hands once.
“Perfect moment for our escape.”
Mapic nods with deep seriousness.
“Yes. Swift and coordinated.”
Pentar squints down the hallway.
“…Where.”
Ro points the opposite direction of the approaching guards.
“Anywhere that direction.”
Jumper stretches like someone who just finished a nap.
“Cool.”
Bacon folds up his chip bag and casually tosses it into a nearby trash bin.
Everyone looks at him.
He shrugs.
“Snack break is over.”
Clown steps forward, cracking his knuckles.
“You know you’re not leaving, right?”
Ashswag sighs.
“Just grab them.”
Minute rubs his temple.
“This is why we don’t let Clown do negotiations.”
“Security teams are approaching from three directions.” Jepex pipped up.
Ro whispers:
“…Run.”
They bolt.
Again.
Ro takes the lead because someone has to.
Zam runs beside him while muttering something that sounds suspiciously like a prayer to the void.
Mapic immediately almost trips again.
Pentar grabs his backpack strap and drags him forward like a misbehaving suitcase.
Bacon jogs comfortably behind them.
Jumper runs with surprising enthusiasm.
“This is way better than sitting in a room.”
Behind them–
Footsteps explode into motion.
Clown’s voice echoes gleefully.
“CHASE TIME!”
Ro yells ahead.
“RIGHT TURN!”
They take it.
Immediately the hallway opens into a massive intersection of corridors.
Security doors are lowering in multiple directions.
The alarm continues screaming.
Jepex’s voice echoes from behind.
“Cut them off at The Hall.”
Mapic panics.
“WHAT’S THE HALL??”
Ro points randomly.
“PROBABLY THAT ONE.”
They run that way.
Bacon slows slightly while running.
He reaches into his jacket pocket.
Pulls out a banana.
Ro glances back.
“…Why do you have that.”
Bacon peels it calmly while sprinting.
“Snack.”
Mapic wheezes.
“This is not snack time!”
Bacon takes one thoughtful bite.
Behind them the Foundation group rounds the corner.
Minute leading.
Clown right behind him.
Ashswag already gaining ground.
Jepex jogging efficiently.
Ro shouts:
“THEY’RE CATCHING UP!”
Bacon finishes the banana.
Chews.
Swallows.
Then casually tosses the peel behind him.
Nobody questions it because everyone is too busy running for their lives.
Minute rounds the corner first.
Focused.
Determined.
Professional.
His foot lands directly on the banana peel.
Time slows.
His expression changes from calm leadership to quiet confusion.
“…What–”
His foot shoots forward.
His other foot tries to compensate.
Fails.
Minute flips backward in the most dramatic possible loss of traction.
Clown runs directly into him.
Ashswag runs into Clown.
Jepex attempts to stop but momentum says absolutely not.
The entire group collapses into a perfectly unplanned pile.
Clown lands on Minute.
Ashswag trips over both of them.
Jepex slides into the heap with quiet resignation.
The hallway echoes with the sad flop of defeat.
Ro hears the crash behind them.
He glances back.
Then slows slightly.
“…Did they just–”
Mapic skids to a stop beside him.
“Oh my god.”
Behind them the entire Foundation team is tangled together on the floor.
Clown is laughing despite being stuck under Ashswag.
Minute is trying to untangle himself with the patience of someone who regrets every life decision.
Jepex lays in place.
Ro slowly turns toward Bacon.
“…Banana.”
Bacon nods.
“Banana.”
Jumper bursts out laughing.
“That’s incredible.”
Zam raises his hands dramatically toward the ceiling.
“The void provides!”
Pentar stares in awe.
“I can’t believe that worked.”
Behind them Ashswag finally shouts:
“GET BACK HERE.”
Ro immediately remembers the situation.
“Oh right.”
He points forward.
“RUN AGAIN.”
They sprint down the next corridor.
Security doors are closing everywhere now.
One begins sliding down directly ahead.
Ro yells:
“GO GO GO!”
They slide under it just before it seals.
Bacon rolls through last.
The door slams shut.
They all collapse against the opposite wall breathing heavily.
Silence.
Just the distant muffled alarm now.
Ro slowly sits up.
“…I think we lost them.”
Mapic flops onto the floor.
“That was the worst rescue mission in history.”
Zam shakes their head proudly.
“Incorrect.”
Ro stares at them.
“We succeeded.”
Pentar nods.
“That technically makes it good.”
Jumper leans against the wall smiling.
“I had fun.”
Ro sighs.
“Of course you did.”
Bacon pulls another banana from his pocket.
Everyone stares again.
Ro pinches the bridge of his nose.
“Why.”
Bacon shrugs.
“Preparation.”
Mapic whispers:
“…He’s unstoppable.”
Somewhere far behind the sealed door, Clown’s voice echoes faintly down the hall.
“I AM GOING TO SUE THAT BANANA PEEL.”
Ro stands up and gestures forward.
“Come on.”
Jumper stretches again.
“Where to now.”
Zam smiles mysteriously.
“To the Abyss base.”
Ro groans quietly.
But they start walking anyway.
Because somehow, despite everything…
The rescue actually worked.
…
The walk back to the Abyss base is… surprisingly calm.
No alarms.
No security guards.
No dramatic chases.
Just five slightly exhausted people walking down an old service tunnel while the echo of their footsteps bounces off concrete walls.
Ro is the only one who still looks tense.
Everyone else seems completely fine.
Jumper is humming something random while kicking a small rock along the floor.
Mapic is still talking about the banana incident.
“I’m telling you that was tactical genius.”
Bacon shrugs.
“It was potassium.”
Pentar sighs.
“I cannot believe the entire Foundation fell over.”
Zam clasps their hands behind their back and walks like a proud tour guide.
“The void clearly favors our endeavors.”
Ro rubs his temples.
“No. No it doesn’t.”
They reach a heavy steel door at the end of the tunnel.
Zam dramatically raises a hand toward it.
“Our sanctuary.”
Ro pushes the door open.
Instead it looks like someone turned an abandoned warehouse into a chaotic clubhouse.
There are couches that don’t match.
Blankets draped over chairs.
Old lamps that glow warm yellow.
A giant chalkboard covered in confusing diagrams.
One corner is piled with robes.
Another corner is piled with snacks.
Lots of snacks.
Ro steps inside first.
Then freezes.
“…Why is there a glowing machine in the middle of the room.”
Across the room, Wemmbu and Squiddo are sitting at a table playing cards.
The machine behind them hums ominously.
Squiddo waves happily.
“WELCOME BACK.”
Wemmbu looks up.
“Oh hey.”
Ro points slowly.
“What. Is. That.”
Wemmbu turns around to look at the device.
“…Oh.”
Squiddo snaps her fingers.
“Oh right.”
Jumper squints.
“Is that glowing.”
Wemmbu scratches the back of his head.
“Maybe.”
Mapic whispers to Pentar.
“That looks like it could end the world.”
Pentar nods.
“Or make popcorn.”
Zam steps closer to inspect it.
“Is this the mini Orbital Strike Cannon.”
Wemmbu shrugs.
“Possibly.”
Ro’s eye twitches.
“You possibly rebuilt the mini Orbital Strike Cannon.”
Squiddo raises a hand.
“Technically we improved it.”
Ro takes a very deep breath.
“…Turn it off.”
Wemmbu presses a button.
The machine powers down with a sad little boop.
Everyone stares at it.
Then collectively decides to ignore the situation.
Squiddo jumps up from her chair and rushes over to Jumper.
“You’re back!”
Jumper grins.
“Yep.”
Wemmbu leans back in his chair.
“How was prison?”
“Boring.”
Ro drops into the nearest couch like someone whose bones have officially given up.
“We ran through six hallways, fought security, and escaped using fruit.”
Squiddo nods thoughtfully.
“Classic rescue.”
Mapic dramatically gestures at Bacon.
“He saved us.”
Bacon holds up another banana.
“Potassium.”
Zam claps their hands.
“Tonight we celebrate.”
Ro slowly turns his head.
“…Why.”
Zam spreads their arms.
“Our chosen one has returned.”
Everyone looks at Jumper.
Jumper blinks.
“…Hi.”
…
Within fifteen minutes the base transforms.
Someone drags a folding table into the center of the room.
Another person pulls out boxes of food that nobody remembers buying.
Pizza appears.
Chips.
Bowls of candy.
Three different types of noodles.
A suspicious amount of garlic bread.
Someone finds a portable speaker.
Music starts playing quietly in the background.
Squiddo is somehow already wearing a party hat.
Wemmbu is trying to stack soda cans into a pyramid.
Mapic and Pentar are arguing about which chip flavor is superior.
Zam is explaining void philosophy to absolutely nobody who asked.
Ro sits on the couch with a bowl of noodles, watching the chaos unfold.
Jumper plops down beside him with a slice of pizza.
“So.”
Ro sighs.
“So.”
She gestures around the room.
“This is the cult.”
Ro shrugs.
“Unfortunately.”
Squiddo suddenly jumps onto the couch behind them.
“WE ARE NOT A CULT.”
Everyone pauses.
Then collectively nods.
“…Okay maybe a little.”
Jumper laughs.
Mapic climbs onto a chair.
“ATTENTION.”
Nobody stops eating.
He continues anyway.
“I would like to formally recognize Bacon’s heroic contribution.”
Bacon waves slightly.
Pentar raises a soda.
“To the banana.”
Everyone raises whatever food they’re holding.
“To the banana.”
Ro stares at his noodles.
“I cannot believe this worked.”
Zam smiles peacefully.
“The void guides all things.”
Wemmbu throws popcorn into the air.
Squiddo attempts to catch it and fails.
Jumper leans back on the couch laughing while the entire group cheers for a banana peel.
Ro watches the scene.
The noise.
The laughter.
The chaos.
And despite everything…
He smiles a little.
…
Across the room, the strange machine suddenly flickers.
A small light turns on.
Nobody notices.
Squiddo is busy trying to juggle cookies.
Mapic and Pentar are debating chip diplomacy.
Zam is explaining the sacred importance of snack offerings.
Jumper is stealing fries from Ro’s plate.
Bacon quietly eats another banana.
The machine hums softly.
Then powers back down again.
No one sees it.
The food party continues long into the night.
And for once…
The Abyss cult is doing absolutely nothing dangerous.
Just snacks.
Laughter.
And +1 Jumper added to cult.
…
For a moment the base feels weirdly peaceful.
Everyone laughing.
Everyone arguing about snacks instead of rituals.
Jumper licking ice cream off the spoon while leaning back against the couch.
Ro relaxes slightly.
Maybe tonight would actually stay calm.
Then the door explodes open.
The entire room freezes.
The metal door slams against the wall with a loud crash.
People pour inside like someone tipped over a jar of very professional ants.
Clown walks in first, clapping slowly.
“Well this looks cozy.”
Ashswag steps in behind him, already scanning the room.
Jepex stands ominously.
Minute walks in last with the calm expression of someone who expected exactly this.
Ro blinks.
“…How.”
Mapic drops his ice cream.
Squiddo is still holding the tub.
“HI.”
Clown grins.
“Hello again.”
Pentar whispers.
“We should run.”
Ro looks around.
They are surrounded.
Bacon quietly finishes his ice cream spoon.
Minute gestures calmly.
“We’re taking Jumper back.”
Jumper raises a hand.
“I just got here.”
Ashswag shrugs.
“Not our problem.”
Zam steps forward dramatically.
“You will not take the chosen one.”
Clown raises an eyebrow.
“Oh?”
Zam opens their mouth to say something profound.
Bacon accidentally bumps him while reaching for another cookie.
Zam falls off the chair.
Clown bursts out laughing.
The others move quickly.
Within seconds the room turns into chaos.
Mapic tries to grab a chair and immediately trips over it.
Pentar attempts to block someone and gets gently moved aside like a piece of furniture.
Squiddo is still holding the ice cream tub and looks deeply offended.
“YOU INTERRUPTED DESSERT.”
Ro lunges forward to grab Jumper.
Someone grabs his arm.
Clown casually grabs Jumper by the wrist.
“Field trip.”
Jumper sighs.
“Again?”
Ro tries to pull away.
Ashswag grabs his shoulder.
“You too.”
Ro blinks.
“…Why.”
Ashswag pauses.
“…Good question.”
Jepex glances at his tablet.
“It appears your name was on the retrieval list.”
Ro stares.
“My name should not be on any list.”
Clown shrugs.
“Congratulations.”
Within seconds they’re dragged toward the door.
Squiddo points dramatically.
“THIS IS RUDE.”
Mapic waves weakly.
“BRING BACK PUDDING.”
The door slams behind them.
The Abyss base falls silent except for Wemmbu eating a cookie.
“…Well.”
…
The ride back to the Foundation facility is awkward.
Ro sits in the back of the transport vehicle with his hands loosely tied.
Jumper sits beside him looking bored.
Across from them Clown is scrolling through her phone.
Ashswag stares out the window.
Ro finally asks the obvious question.
“Why am I here?”
Clown looks up.
“No idea.”
Minute glances over from the front seat.
“You were present.”
“That is not a reason.”
Ashswag shrugs.
“Sometimes paperwork works like that.”
Jumper leans back.
“At least they didn’t take the ice cream.”
Ro stares ahead.
“This is my life now.”
When they reach the facility, they’re escorted down several bright sterile hallways.
The alarms from earlier are gone.
Everything feels calm again.
Too calm.
Ro and Jumper are pushed into a containment room.
The door shuts behind them with a heavy clunk.
Ro immediately turns.
“You people are unbelievable.”
No one answers.
Instead he hears another voice from inside the room.
“…Hi.”
Ro freezes.
He slowly turns.
There’s a third person sitting on the floor against the wall.
A guy with messy dark hair, wearing a hoodie and holding what looks like a half-finished sandwich.
He blinks at them.
“…You guys kidnapped too?”
Ro stares.
“…Apparently.”
Jumper walks over and sits down across from him.
“Hi.”
The guy nods.
“Rek.”
“Jumper.”
He gestures at Ro.
“Friend?”
Ro sighs.
“Unfortunately.”
Rek nods thoughtfully.
“Cool.”
They sit there for a moment.
Then Rek asks the question.
“So why are you here?”
Jumper shrugs.
“They think I’m important.”
Rek nods slowly.
“Okay.”
He looks at Ro.
“What about you?”
Ro points at the door.
“They don’t know.”
Rek pauses.
“…What.”
Ro spreads his hands.
“They literally admitted they don’t know why they kidnapped me.”
Rek looks impressed.
“That’s incredible.”
Jumper leans back against the wall.
“At least you got a sandwich.”
Rek holds it up.
“They gave it to me because they felt bad.”
Ro stares at the sandwich.
“…They gave you food.”
“Yeah.”
Ro slowly slides down the wall and sits on the floor.
“I got kidnapped during a pizza party.”
Rek nods sympathetically.
“That’s rough.”
Jumper grins slightly.
“Honestly this is still less boring than the last room.”
Rek brightens.
“Oh good.”
Ro drops his head into his hands.
Somewhere outside the room, two people are arguing quietly.
One of them whispers.
“…Why is Ro in containment?”
The other answers.
“I thought you knew.”
“I thought YOU knew.”
Inside the room, Rek offers Ro half the sandwich.
Ro takes it.
“…Thanks.”
Jumper stretches.
“Well.”
She looks at both of them.
“Now what.”
No one answers.
Because absolutely nobody involved in this situation knows what’s supposed to happen next.