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Eret first receives the news through a global message sent via the comms system.
jschlatt: An illegal underground settlement has just been discovered. All citizens of this ‘Pogtopia’ and those found to be associates are guilty of conspiracy against our great nation, and must be dealt with immediately.
Beneath President Schlatt’s message is a string of coordinates, which Eret can only assume marks the location of wherever Wilbur, Tommy, Niki and Fundy have been hiding since the election, accompanied by the legendary Technoblade. She did try to get in contact, not long after Schlatt took up his position, but all she received was radio silence, or, in Tommy’s case, a simple ‘Fuck off’ and nothing more.
Eret is a traitor. He knows this. But sitting idly by while Schlatt and his lackeys storm the cave systems with intent to spill blood just feels wrong.
They have to help.
Slipping out of the castle undetected is easy, as most of the SMP’s population seems to have been drawn away by Schlatt’s announcement. Coordinates crystal clear in her mind, Eret sets off, donning her armour and summoning her shield in her off-hand. She travels roughly one hundred blocks before her communicator dings.
JackManifoldTV whispers to you: I see you
Eret frowns at the message. He glances up and scans the terrain, only to catch a brief glimpse of a blue and black blob in the distance, perched atop a nearby ledge.
You whisper to JackManifoldTV: I see you too
There is a brief moment of pause as Eret assumes Jack is writing a response.
JackManifoldTV whispers to you: What are you up to?? Looking pretty sus
Eret’s brow furrows. They suppose they should’ve expected this; the scepticism. People are bound to hold a grudge when you betray them in favour of their enemy.
You whisper to JackManifoldTV: I’m not wasting my time explaining myself to you
Eret pockets her communicator and continues walking, only to stop again when an Ender Pearl collides with her arm. She shoves her shield between herself and her attacker as hands grab at her shoulders, sword materialising in her opposite hand. She thrusts the tip of the blade towards the attacker’s throat, and is met with a surprised yelp. The attacker stumbles back, headset clattering on the ground as it slips off their head.
“Interesting technique,” Eret remarks, banishing their sword and lowering their shield. “Did you seriously waste a pearl to ambush me? Without any gear?”
Jack retrieves his headset and slides it back over his ears. “It was intended to be a faster way of reaching you, but whatever floats your boat I guess.”
Eret plants her free hand on her hip. “What do you want? I already said I’m not explaining myself.”
“But why?” Jack throws his hands into the air. “You can’t go wandering around decked out in a full set of armour, holding a shield, and not expect someone to ask questions.”
Eret raises an eyebrow. “I… considering the server we’re on, it’s not really that odd.”
Jack falters, and his arms flop back down against his sides. “Ah— Wait, no, that’s besides the point.” He crosses his arms, an attempt to appear intimidating quickly becoming a weak glare. “Explain yourself.”
Eret shoves past Jack and continues walking, ignoring the latter’s indignant squawk. “I don’t have time for this,” he mutters.
A hand closes around his forearm.
“Eret, wait—“
“I have to go, Jack!” Eret rips her arm from Jack’s grip, ignoring his flinch. He reaches for her again, and she quickly pulls away, averting her gaze.
“My friends need me.”
Jack’s indifferent expression quickly morphs into one of utter bafflement. “‘Friends’? You— Oh, come on, you’re not seriously talking about them, are you?”
Eret doesn’t respond.
“You— You realise you fucked us over massively, right? You betrayed us!”
Eret bristles, rage slowly bubbling its way to the surface. “Pogtopia is in danger—“
“Yeah, and I doubt they want your help. Fuck– I’m honestly amazed you still consider them – consider us – friends after what you did. For the record, I doubt the feeling is mutual.”
Eret and Jack’s communicators buzz. Eret doesn’t move, instead opting to wait for Jack to retrieve his own. As Jack reads the recent message, Eret approaches slowly, leaning forward to see it for himself when he sees the colour drain from Jack’s face.
Tubbo_ was slain by jschlatt.
Eret’s eyes grow wide, and their heart leaps into their throat. They can feel Jack’s gaze on them, but they step back without a word, nor so much as a glance in his direction. They retrieve an apple from their inventory and take several bites before casting the core aside, wiping the juice from their mouth using their sleeve. They sigh, and their breath shakes.
“Well, are you planning on helping?”
“What a stupid fucking question — ‘course I am. Doesn’t mean I’m letting you come along, though.”
Eret finally meets Jack’s gaze, sceptical. “You’re going to Pogtopia. By yourself. Without any gear.”
Jack raises an eyebrow. “Uh, newsflash, ‘Your Highness’; Ender Chests exist.”
Eret banishes her shield and crosses her arms over her chest, unconvinced. “If you have one on you, why not just get your gear out before you get there?”
Jack opens his mouth to respond, but the words die on his lips, transitioning into incoherent spluttering.
“Wha— You— Shut the fuck up, I— That’s what I was planning to do, I just— Fuck you, Eret. Piss off.”
Eret rolls his eyes. “You’re going to get yourself killed.”
Jack glares daggers, his eyes filled with raw, unfiltered rage. Eret doesn’t budge. Jack’s hands curl into fists, and his jaw clenches. Eret braces herself.
“You haven’t changed a bit, you know that?” Eret’s body tenses. “Shit— You haven’t even made the effort to atone for your fuck-ups! How can you expect any of us to forgive you when you can’t even apologise?!”
Jack moves to walk away.
“Stay the hell away from us.”
And Eret sees red.
Moments later, a new message pops up in the global feed, for the entire SMP to see.
JackManifoldTV was slain by The_Eret.