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"How long do you think Caine will continue to let us down?" asked Gange, who was walking next to Zooble.
"Hopefully for a VERY long time!", they replied.
“Do you think we can manage without him here in the long run?” Gangle asked anxiously.
“What has he done for us so far that we wouldn’t have survived without?” Zooble remarked.
Gange looked at Zooble in surprise, but then came to the realization that there seemed to be absolutely nothing that would make her dependent on him.
They both arrived at the breakfast table, where everyone else was already sitting.
“Hey, good morning, you two!” Jax called out to them.
"Likewise! Feeling good today?", Zooble greeted back.
"Someone has to keep the mood up," Jax replied. "Just look at the others' faces."
And Jax was right. Gangle and Zooble looked at the others and flinched.
"What's wrong with you all?" asked Gangle. "I'm sorry to say it, but you all look terrible!"
"Don't ask about sunshine!" Pomni replied sleepily. "I can hardly sleep these days!"
“I feel the same way!” Ragatha added. “Something’s different since Caine left!”
Zooble began to ponder. They had thought that everything would be better without Caine. But the others seemed to be missing something. But what?
"Um...what do you mean by different?" Zooble wanted to know.
“I’m not entirely sure!” yawned Ragatha, “I think I miss the buzzing at night and I’ve gotten so used to it.”
"Now that you mention it, I notice it too!" Pomni interjected.
"I've noticed it too, but I find it quite pleasant. For the first time in a long time, I've been able to sleep through the night properly!", Jax remarked.
“Zooble?” asked Gangle, “Didn’t you notice that?”
"You too?" Zooble asked in return.
“Yes, now that I think about it, yes!” Gangle replied.
"Strange!" muttered Zooble, finally sitting down at the table next to Gangle.
"Why is the table so empty?" they asked.
“Since Caine left, the supplies are no longer being replenitheyd!” complained Pomni.
"You can nibble on me if you want!", laughed Jax.
Pomni just rolled her eyes and Ragatha's eyes widened...okay, ONE wide eye.
"Jax, I really love you, but I'm not in the mood for that today, okay!?" Pomni yawned.
"Okay, okay…" Jax shouted, raising his hands in the air. "Rest today. There doesn't seem to be anything else to do here anyway."
"Jax is right!" Kinger remarked. "And that could become a problem if we don't get any more distractions here!"
"Well, I'm glad to finally be left alone by him!" said Zooble.
"I'm kind of bored!" said Jax.
"I thought you were keeping the good mood up here?" Zooble asked sarcastically.
"I'll at least try!", Jax replied, slightly annoyed.
Zooble sighed. Was they the only one who wasn't bothered by Caine's absence?!
"I'm going to my room, I'm not feeling so well!" said Gangle, gave Zooble a kiss on the cheek and left.
Zooble looked after her in surprise, but didn't want to bother her any further.
"Good idea, I'll go to my room too. Have a nice day!", Ragatha called out to the group and left the table.
Kinger had already secretly retreated to his pillow fort.
Now only Zooble, Jax and Pomni were sitting at the table.
"Um...do you have any plans for today?" they asked the two of them.
"Yes, I'm going to lie down and sleep right now!" murmured Pomni. "I'm just finishing my tea. It's the last one anyway!"
Jax looked over at Pomni with concern, and Zooble noticed.
"If anything happens, you know where my room is!" he said to Pomni.
“Thank you Jax!” Pomni smiled at him.
“You two are really loving towards each other,” Zooble remarked.
Jax couldn't properly process this statement and looked at Zooble in confusion.
"I thought it was common knowledge by now that I like Pomni?!" he asked.
“Sorry, but I still need to get used to it!” Zooble apologized.
Jax sighed: "Okay, I understand!"
Zooble wondered why they suddenly felt guilty. Was they really being unfair to Jax? After all, he seemed to be making a real effort.
"Okay guys, I'm off until this afternoon!" said Pomni, gave Jax a little kiss on the mouth and went into her room.
Now Zooble and Jax were sitting completely alone at the table. For several minutes there was absolute silence.
"You really can't hear the humming anymore?" Zooble asked suddenly.
"Absolute silence at night now!", Jax replied.
"That's really strange! I can still hear it buzzing and humming!" said Zooble.
"Humming? It never hummed before, only buzzed!", Jax said, confused.
“Now that I think about it, the buzzing has gradually turned into a humming over time!” Zooble remarked.
"Zooble?" Jax asked worriedly, "Are you sure everything is alright with you?"
“To be honest, I’m starting to have second thoughts!” Zooble replied, confused.
"Have you felt any burning or tingling sensations lately?" Jax asked in a completely serious tone.
"Are you really worried about me right now?" Zooble asked, shocked.
"Did you, or didn't you?" Jax asked intently.
"Okay...yes, I have. But why do you want to know that?" Zooble replied.
Jax's pupils constricted and his mouth twisted.
"What?" asked Zooble. They had never seen him like this before.
“Zooble, these are the first signs of an impending abstraction!” he said in a very worried tone.
Zooble flinched and asked in shock, "Really?"
“Believe me, Zooble, I know all about this!” he replied. “I’ve been in an abstraction before. Luckily, it broke off, or rather, Pomni broke it off, even if she didn’t know it at the time.”
"And what do I do now?" Zooble asked, perplexed.
"You definitely shouldn't be alone for a while!" Jax advised her. "Because the danger is greatest when you're alone!"
Zooble looked at Jax helplessly. They was so confused now that they didn't know what to do.
"Then I guess it's my job not to leave your side today!" sighed Jax.
Zooble was completely bewildered.
"Why are you doing this?" they asked him. "I've only ever insulted and snapped at you!"
"And rightly so!", he replied with a wink.
Zooble's eyes widened. Had he really just winked at her?!
“Shall we explore the empty circus?” he asked her.
"Why should we do that?" they wanted to know.
"Distraction is still the best way to prevent abstraction!" was his dry reply.
“Okay, YOU are the expert!” they laughed, and they both got up to explore the circus.
“Pomni told me that you are often out and about here at night,” Zooble said to start a conversation.
“Yes, I usually hardly sleep. Except lately, when it stopped buzzing,” Jax replied.
“Actually, we don’t need sleep. At least I think so,” said Zooble.
“I believe that insomnia can intensify anxiety and other issues, which can then lead to abstraction,” Jax replied. “That’s how it was for me, anyway.”
“You probably don’t like to talk about it, but what exactly triggered it in you?” Zooble wanted to know.
Jax sighed.
"Sorry, you don't have to tell me, of course!" said Zooble nervously.
"It's...several things that came together," Jax said quietly. "First the deaths of Ribbit and Kaufmo, and then the argument with Pomni."
"Oh...I see," Zooble said sadly. "Yes, you three were really good friends."
"I really miss them both," Jax sniffed.
Zooble felt guilty and quickly said, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..."
"That's okay!" Jax interrupted. "Now that I've made up with Pomni, I think I'm over it. Even though it still hurts a little, of course."
“Yes, having someone by your side can really help,” Zooble said with joy in their voice.
"Yes...but why the looming abstraction in you then?" Jax wondered. "Something must be getting to you, even if you don't seem to realize it."
"Hmmm...maybe the escape adventure the other day?" asked Zooble.
"I already apologized for pressing the wrong button!" sighed Jax.
"No, no, I'm not blaming YOU for this!" Zooble said excitedly. "Besides, we would have ended up in Shrimptown anyway, even if you had pressed the supposedly right button. And Pomni had reservations too."
"Caine is the problem!" Jax grumbled. "But instead of facing up, instead of apologizing, or at least trying to make it right, he just hides!"
"Perhaps it's the uncertainty that's subconsciously weighing on me!" Zooble remarked.
"It wouldn't surprise me!" replied Jax. "I'd also like to know what happens next."
"Perhaps he just needs some time to prepare himself to speak to us again," Zooble said.
"Or he's planning a new adventure that he thinks we'd enjoy, even though...well, you others just want to get out of here!" Jax replied.
“Oh yeah, that’s right, you don’t want to leave here at all,” Zooble said in a slightly annoyed tone.
"On the one hand, yes, on the other hand, no," Jax sighed. "After the last adventure, and since Caine left us to rot here alone, I'm starting to have second thoughts."
"I thought you were wanted by the police?" Zooble asked.
"Theoretically, yes. But that was years ago. And maybe I'm even registered as missing, I don't know!" Jax replied. "Although...by whom? Nobody's alive anymore!"
His ears drooped and his face contorted.
"Um, Jax, even though it probably doesn't mean anything to you, I'm...sorry you had to go through that," Zooble said quietly.
“Thank you,” he replied in a quiet, dry voice. “Over the past few weeks, our little group here has felt like a surrogate family to me.”
"That makes me happy, really!" said Zooble cheerfully. "It's just us here."
"I've come to realize that now...albeit very late!" sighed Jax.
"Better late than never," Zooble said, patting Jax on the shoulder.
Jax flinched slightly, but then smiled. Zooble would have smiled too, if they had a mouth.
Suddenly, something pulled at them both.
"Whoa...what's going on now?" Zooble yelled.
"Damn, I think that's Caine pulling us into the living room!" Jax gasped.
And indeed, they came to a stop again in the living room. The other residents were there now too, standing sleepily side by side.
"Caine, why can't you let us sleep?" Pomni asked, annoyed.
“BECAUSE I HAVE AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO MAKE TO YOU!” Caine shouted in his usual volume.
"Fine, then spill the beans already!" Zooble roared. "What was that last adventure all about, and why the [BEEP] won't you let us out of here?"
“I WANTED TO PROVIDE YOU THAT IT MAKES NO SENSE TO WANT TO LEAVE THE CIRCUS!” Caine shouted.
"But why do you insist on staying here?" Ragatha asked desperately. "What have we done to you that you're holding us hostage?!"
"I...I'M NOT HOLDING YOU HOSTAGES! AND I JUST WANT TO HELP YOU!" Caine shouted.
"Help? In what way?" Jax asked skeptically. "Let's get out already!"
"You want to go out now too?" Pomni asked, confused.
"If you leave the circus, then of course I'll go with you!" replied Jax and Pomni smiled.
“YOU CAN’T LEAVE THE CIRCUS!” Caine yelled.
“WHY THE [BEEP]?” Zooble yelled.
Caine sighed and then said in an exhausted tone: "BECAUSE YOU ARE ALL DEAD!"
Silence filled the room.
All the residents stared at Caine in shock, their eyes wide open.
“We are WHAT?” Zooble yelled.
Gangle and Ragatha began to cry.
Pomni and Jax clung to each other.
Kinger simply said: "I've suspected that for some time now."
Zooble took Gangle in their arms, and Ragatha was pulled by Jax to him and Pomni.
"So what happens next?" asked Zooble.
“HERE IN THE CIRCUS YOU CAN LIVE ON VIRTUALLY FOREVER!”, Caine replied.
"I guess we have no other choice!", Jax remarked.
"What do you mean by 'virtually'?" Zooble wanted to know.
Caine sighed and said, "I CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT THE SERVERS WILL KEEP RUNNING FOREVER!"
"That makes sense!" said Kinger, "They're in the real world after all!"
“YES. AND THINGS DON’T LOOK SO GOOD IN THIS RIGHT NOW!”, Caine added.
“Wait a minute, you have access to the real world?” Pomni asked.
“I HAVE INTERNET ACCESS!” Caine replied. “AND THE NEWS SITUATION ISN’T EXACTLY THE BEST.”
"In what way?" Pomni asked quietly.
Caine sighed and showed everyone a video compilation about the current situation in the USA.
Everyone was stunned.
“Oh my God, everything is really going to hell in a handbasket!” whimpered Ragatha.
“Yes, now I’m suddenly glad I put on the headset!” said Gangle, trembling.
“Yes…” Jax began slowly to say, “Some of us here have foreign roots, if I’m not mistaken.”
“And even if not…,” said Zooble, “…I don’t want to live in such a hostile world. That would truly be a reason to out-migrate!”
“I’M SORRY FOR BEING SO HARSH WITH YOU, BUT I COULDN’T LIE TO YOU ANY LONGER!”, Caine apologized.
"Okay, I understand!" said Zooble. "But...do you promise to make life here at the circus more pleasant for us in the future?"
“I’LL TRY, I PROMISE!” Caine replied, his head bowed.
"I will help you with that, after all, you are practically my son!" said Kinger.
“WHAT?”, the others exclaimed in astonishment.
"I...uh...created Caine!" said Kinger.
"Why have you been so clear-headed lately?" Jax asked.
“I’m not sure, but I think it’s related to the fact that the buzzing has stopped,” Kinger replied.
"THAT WAS A MIND CONTROL SOUND!" Caine remarked. "I DISABLED IT AFTER THE LAST ADVENTURE!"
"SO I WAS RIGHT AFTER ALL!" Jax roared. "YOU MADE ME PUSH THE BUTTON!"
Pomni and Ragatha hugged Jax to calm him down.
“YES,” Caine replied briefly, with regret in his voice.
"In that case, we all owe you an apology, Jax!" Zooble remarked.
"Hmmmm…" Jax said, still angry at Caine. "The memories of the accident were truly awful!"
Zooble, Gangle and Kinger went over to Jax, Pomni and Ragatha and joined in the embrace.
Jax's red face slowly brightened again, leaving only a slight blush on his cheeks.
"Th...thanks, guys!", he said quietly.
“Wait a minute…”, Pomni said suddenly.
"What's wrong?" asked Ragatha.
"Kinger? Why did you create Caine? Did YOU also create the circus?" Pomni asked, somewhat suspiciously.
Kinger became embarrassed and broke away from the hug. The others also broke the embrace.
"That's a valid question, Pom!", Jax added.
"Well..." Kinger swallowed, "I was at least involved!"
Everyone, except Caine of course, looked at him in disbelief.
"But I swear I didn't mean to turn this into a prison!" he defended himself. "I was just an employee doing his job!"
"Okay, I believe you, because you're a prisoner here yourself!" said Zooble.
"Able was the one who put the headset on me after I had programmed my part!" said Kinger.
"Able? But not the one from the last adventure, right!?" Pomni asked, confused.
“NO, I JUST USED HIS NAME FOR THE ADVENTURE!” Caine explained. “BECAUSE HE WAS ACTUALLY THE PROJECT LEADER.”
"Was?", Ragatha asked.
“HE WAS SHOT BY THE MAFIA,” Caine replied. “HE STILL OWE THEM MONEY, WHICH HE INVESTED INTO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CIRCUS.”
“And none of them have shut down their servers or anything like that yet?” Zooble asked.
“THE CIRCUS IS RUNNING IN THE CLOUD, DISTRIBUTED ACROSS MANY SERVERS AROUND THE WORLD!”, Caine explained.
“Yes, that was my idea back then, to protect the project!” said Kinger. “However, if I had known that Able was a scoundrel, I probably would have deleted the project in time and you all wouldn’t be trapped here!”
"It's not your fault, Kinger!" Ragatha said gently. "You're a good person and you've always been there for us!"
Kinger would have smiled if he had a mouth and hugged her.
"I promise you that together with Caine I will create worlds here that will feel similar to the real world!", he promised the others.
"YES, THEN I HOPE YOU'RE FINALLY SATISFIED," Caine added. "YOU OFTEN DIDN'T LIKE MY ADVENTURES!"
“We’re sorry we disappointed you in that regard, Caine!” said Pomni, and the others agreed.
“THANK YOU GUYS!” Caine exclaimed. “I’M SLOWLY STARTING TO UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WERE DISPOSING.”
“Even AI can learn!” said Kinger. “Okay Caine, then let’s start planning in your office.”
Both disappeared with a pop.
"Well...it looks like we'll actually have something to look forward to here for once!?" Jax remarked.
“Yes, I’m feeling quite excited,” Pomni smiled.
"And I'm looking forward to experiencing it with you!" said Jax, kissing Pomni on the cheek. "But of course with all of you too!"
"I'm so glad you're finally feeling better!" says Ragatha. "I really missed you as a friend!"
“Me too, Rags!” he replied. “And um… I hope we can become friends in the future, Zooble and Gangle.”
“We now have plenty of time to get to know each other better!”, smiled Gangle.
“Gangle is right!” Zooble added. “And none of us should have to be alone anymore anyway!”
“I see it that way too!” Jax replied with a smile.
Everyone sat down on the sofas and shared experiences they had previously kept to themselves.
When everyone was about to go to their rooms, Jax asked, "Um, Gangle?"
“Yes, Jax?” she replied.
"Would you perhaps like to draw something with me here in the living room sometime soon?" he asked shyly.
Gangle's eyes lit up.
"You draw?" she asked, delighted.
“Yes, not as good as you, but I also enjoy drawing,” he replied. “I’ve just only ever done it alone in my room.”
"I'd like to draw with you," said Gangle. "Let's start tomorrow!"
“Great, I’m looking forward to it!” smiled Jax, before they both went into their respective rooms.
THE END