Work Text:
A giant screen and two buttons. That’s all that stands between the real and digital worlds.
Pomni argues that not all the facts are available. Zooble argues Caine will know the office has been breached.
He can’t add anything. Piercing pain assaults his head and his digital lungs fail to work. Flashes of memory – of the real – pound against his consciousness tinged in red and blue.
Concrete and darkness and houses.
His hands twitch, reaching for a hand in a corner.
Night sky and streetlights and signs.
Come with me, fella.
The voices of the others fade behind a high pitched ringing in his ears.
Staring through a windshield at houses sliding by.
Just let go, I’ll catch you.
His whole body hurts in a way that reminded him of home and he can see the warping of his model’s faces.
Driving over a bridge through the woods.
This hurts! This hurts so much and it’s just as bad as with him!
He doesn’t want this, he never wanted this!
His foot taps rapidly against the ground and he feels it start to shift to a point underneath him and he knows he doesn't have much time left.
Fella, wait!
He runs and shoves Zooble out of the way-
At least the last thing he does might save the others, it's too late for him
-slamming his fist against the blue button.
He should have let Ribbit take him in his room, he should have gone with her, it hurts so bad!
Pomni stares at him and the look in those eyes is so scared, it’s like a reflection of himself.
His body starts to shake and hum and he recognizes this, Caine is teleporting him.
He doesn’t want this, he doesn’t want to hurt for the rest of his existence!
He watches Gangle shred and Zooble dissolve and Pomni stretch and Ragatha distorts and Kinger glitches and feels his head burn and Caine snaps those white gloved fingers repeatedly but nothing happens-
JAX!
Jax wakes up.