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Drift was getting used to the island more and more as the months passed by. Making friends and trying to enjoy life as it was, the island inhabitants were for the most part friendly in their own way. Confusion and miscommunication wasn't something uncommon sadly, as everyone tried to adjust to the cultural differences between almost every entity stepping foot here. People all had their own way to do things, even if most of the loopers were humans they still all came from very different worlds and you could see it by the way some talked, moved or even dressed. The island was like a big mix of every single culture you could find out there outside of reality zero, a weird combination of notes that still came out as a somewhat enjoyable melody. That's also why people with the most in common stuck together, familiarity helped with surviving in this harsh environment.
It had been something of a surprise to him when he found out that the outside of the loop was way more lively than what some made it out to be when greeting newbies, that had the luck of winning enough games to access this mess of an island. Parties were thrown left and right, strange organizations would try doing strange stuff, there was even an odd cube and some zombie apocalyptic shit one time. He honestly doesn't know how he survived this long without losing a single limb. And believe him or not, it was really hard keeping track of all these peculiar events, he knew to some extent most of them were connected, nevertheless he had trouble finishing the puzzle some seemed to have the pleasure of assembling. The lore people were weird. Not to the point of being completely cut off from society, excluding the part where their little club was in an old bunker only a few knew the location of- it was weird but he went with it as long as they didn't do too much weird stuff. However despite all of the above people still helped each other out, with some fights breaking out in the mix, but they did try to find a way home together, all help was welcome.
One strange thing Drift immediately noticed nonetheless is that the island folks never talked directly about home. It was a really touchy subject that could give you if used in a conversation the award for Speedrunning awkwardness. He never pressed about it but he still felt people's eyes on him when he talked fondly about the earth he was from and every stupid references and memes he could possibly remember of. He sometimes would recognize someone from a video game or a movie back home. It was weird the first few times, he grew used to it rather quickly.
He talked about it to Rex and Cuddle one time and they gave him the advice they gave to everyone else, don't talk about home unless you have a death wish (metaphorically as everyone liked to stick to the rule of not killing any non-looper). So he stopped asking questions, something he would later come to regret. A stupid decision honestly. Drift liked to think he wasn't as dumb as the regular American, he knew how to do math, was a great artist, even if he lacked in the social department he still would figure out stuff on his own so to not fall behind in conversations (he still did no matter how he improved over the years). So yes, even if he was clueless at times, this was still one of his most stupid decisions.
And so months passed by within his little friend group, going on road trips after road trips and making new acquaintances along the way. Confusing events still happened , war broke out one time and now there was another him from another universe running around the island. If he remembered correctly this was season 10, the lore people used this term to date every time something ridiculously big would happen to the island. Along with the newcomers this season brought, beside his counterpart he had yet to talk to, two peculiar individuals caught his attention, The scientist and The visitor. He remembered the latter to be the one that had created the rift he had come through, the stories of a rocket flying in the sky still fresh in his mind from when Bright explained them to him. These two were something for sure but they were friendly enough, that's all that Drift really needed to suddenly become attracted to those two's nonsense. As far as the kitsune could understand, they were part of a faction that called themselves the Seven, not a very original name (besides he had heard worse), whose members were trying to fix a problem with the zero point, term designating the big blue orb currently going crazy in the middle of not loot lake. Why they shared all that information with him was still a mystery as these two seemed to be very secretive about their plans. Nevertheless they wanted to help destroy the loop and get everyone home. An objective every non-looper had in mind but which none made progress on, why would it change this time ? Something in his mind told him that they were different, very obviously different but that just maybe just maybe these two and their little group could bring change and perhaps help getting closer to finding an exit from this madness so many were trapped in. So he kept visiting, and they kept welcoming him with open arms. They saw something in him he didn't see. Something he didn't see until it was too late.
"Could you pass the huh.. that one thing please ?"
Hand reaching instinctively to the designated object (they had come up with various nicknames as Drift was mostly unacknowledged when it came to space mechanics), Drift threw the 'thing' at Scientist, currently under the soon to be rocket, working on getting everything working as it should. What piece was for what ? He had no clue, his studies were art focused not science related. He was here for the company, along with being useful and doing something of his days, that did not mean he did his job correctly. Drift didn't want to be reminded of the numerous times something blew up in the lab because of his carelessness. Stray lightning from his coat ? Explosion. Touching literally anything within the lab ? Also explosion. The two kept telling him it was fine, sharing stories of how Sci blew multiple of his inventions in the past and still did to this very day (they were never shared by the Visitor, no, he preferred to stay silent, Drift respected that).
"So when will it be finished ?"
Scientist shifted from his current working spot, throwing back his tool before getting up himself. His helmet showed his usual smiley face, Drift had yet to see either of the Seven's members face, although he walked on Sci putting his helmet back on earlier in the week, at least confirming they were not robots- or at least not fully.
"Well at this rate it will be ready to launch in two days. Might need to get Visi back home soon so that he can work on his."
Visitor agreed with a nod from his corner of the room, currently upgrading a weapon for later use.
"Sweet"
It was good to know they were so close to perhaps freeing everyone from this endless suffering. Drift wasn't sure though if he wanted to go home. There wasn't anyone waiting for him, he would have to go back to his studies for a job that will perhaps never come, living on instant noodles alone in his apartment. On this island he had friends, family even, every day gave him new opportunities, he was happy here. But it wasn't about him this story was, they needed to free those trapped inside the loop, those who weren't as lucky as him to be doing just fine on the island.
"Something on your mind mate ?"
Drift's head snapped in Sci's direction, not having expected to be questioned about the sour look he had wearing on his face.
"Nah it's nothing. Maybe just a bit sad that I'll have to go back to my old life that's all."
"You remember your old world ?"
Drift looked at Sci in confusion, what was so special about remembering his old life ? He had almost forgotten the past warnings his friends had given him.
"Yeah I do ? What's the deal with that ?"
Sci let out a long sight before sitting on the nearest stool, taking off his helmet in the process to take a breath. He truly was handsome, that part hadn't been only a joke it seems.
"Most loopers don't usually remember anything about where they come from. Something to do with the loop messing with their memories." He took a break looking back at the zero point, glowing from afar. " That's why we want to help them go back home, to reunite with what they have forgotten, so they can be happy again with the people they love, not, trapped here in some endless survival game for the pleasure of those who watch. I just didn't expect you to remember I guess."
Oh that suddenly made sense. Why hadn't anybody bothered to tell him before now ? All those stares, they had been of envy, because he had something nobody else did. He remembered.
"I- nobody told me before..."
"Well they should have, but it's not important now is it ? We need to get this bad boy finished so everyone can finally leave this island ! Besides, maybe I could convince my boss for you to come with us if going to your old place bothers you so much. We don't talk enough about how many realities out there are unfriendly, take mine for example ! Bunch of psychos live there… here” Sci then threw him a trinket shaped as the seven’s logo. “If anyone ever asks, show them this, then we’ll be able to find you, ain't that cool ? Made it myself !” He felt the cool metal with his thumb before glancing back at the Scientist with a smile. “Thanks man.”
The day came to an end rather quickly after that conversation. When Drift woke up he went back to the lab, Visitor had left and Scientist was adding the final touches to the rocket, tomorrow it would launch. Tomorrow it will be over.
Drift gave his final goodbye to his friend, with a promise of a new home if Sci managed to talk to his boss (if this mission didn't kill him first). He was excited, he was scared, most of all he knew he would miss the island and its inhabitants as weird as they were. He still wished he had realized this memory situation sooner, who knew how much he could have helped others with only the silly memories of a far away reality.
He had wished for a comlink so he could hear the conversation the seven would have during the event, even if he was fairly certain he wouldn't understand half of what they would say. Sci had refused, simply because he didn't have the time to craft him one anymore. So he simply watched in silence.
The wind was growing agitated, a melody floating in the air that he swore he could hear if he focused hard enough. Everyone on the island had gathered around Dusty divot, but Drift had preferred staying further south to have a good view over the island as a whole.
The rocket finally took to the sky, if he had been here just a season earlier he would be able to say how familiar it felt to see it rise above the clouds. However it was all new for him. The feeling of wonder never once left him, even as the rockets all danced across the sky before finally focusing on the meteor, dislodging it from its frozen spot and into a new rift, silence overtaking the island once more. The melody grew silent too, anticipation growing in the air. When the meteor reapered again, following in the steps of a rocket whose he could only assume had been the Leader's one, Drift kept watching in amazement. He started floating soon after, the zero point absorbing every ounce of light and life in its path, every star in the sky floating down to meet the center of the island, himself included.
Somewhere, a phone rang. Then, the world went dark.
‘Far beyond’
‘You come from a distant land’
‘We’re not like you, you’d never understand’
The music that reached Drift ears was one he was familiar with, Blastoff had been his favorite song since he first listened to it. The wind picked up, the music never once stopping, still slightly muffled by the violent midnight gust. He opened his eyes after a painfully long time, the sight that met him being the one he had fallen asleep to, the desert greeting him like an old friend, stars shining in the sky awaiting the end of his slumber. His golf cart was not far, the music coming directly from it, coat hanging from the side with the rest of his equipment. He shifted slightly, frowning when his hand came into touch with a mask. He picked it up before standing himself, using the giant burger he had tagged earlier in the day to steady himself. The mask looked familiar, upon further inspection matching the tag he had made on the durr burger. He was confused, when had he gotten himself a mask ? Surely he would remember having bought something so cool looking. Almost by reflex, he found himself putting the mask on his face. Nothing happened thus leading him to put it in his backpack for later inspection. He then headed back to his kart, looking one last time at the burger and the art he left to find for whoever ventured the desert. Somehow, he felt that leaving it alone was a mistake, something blue catching his eye for a second before disappearing again. Weird.
His hand reached in his pockets for the keys, instead coming in contact with a foreign item. He pulled It out, not instantly recognizing what it was before realization dawned on him. Oh. How could he have forgotten ? Was this- it was here in his hand, the trinket Scientist had given him before the rocket launch- the rocket ! It worked ? Drift looked around him one more time, he was home- it hadn't been a dream had it ? It couldn't possibly have been, he had the proof right there. He reached back for the mask- his mask, that had been put in his bag, putting it quickly on his face for a second time.
When he tried to rift himself somewhere else, only silence met him, the still image of the stars never changing as he frantically tried to call out for his powers. Panic grew in him rather quickly, he couldn't have made any of that up could he ? The trinket never left his hand, smooth and cold to the touch. The stars watched, silent, the boy go to his kart in urgency, picking up the rest of his belongings along the way, checking the date on his phone. It hadn’t changed, he was back the same day he had left. He felt nauseous.
When the car engine started, Drift gripping tightly the steering wheel, the world did nothing to show him he was right, that he did not imagine all of this. So he left, the car growing smaller and smaller as it disappeared into the horizon.
At the Durr burger, things were now oddly still, the only living being now gone leaving the location to drown in silence.
Drift wished this night that something could have happened. The only proof he had now was a small trinket and his own memories.