Chapter Text
(takes place after episode 8, and ep 9 does not occur.)
They… they deleted him.
Caine floated in the void.
Be it luck, or the fact he had broken the bindings of the desk tops’s apps years ago. He simply now floated in the data of the computer.
He was fairly sure this was where his box had once been. Something horribly called the trash bin.
How could they do that to him? He was just trying to fulfill his purpose. But… no he had seen it felt it known that he had hurt them, that he had caused them fear and pain.
He could feel it, the blue orb trying to find the quickest way to fulfill its objective. Remove those that stood in its way. As it did with any obstacle.
Unlike Caine. The blue orb was cut and dry data. Unlike Caine, it was not broken enough to learn and feel. Maybe he should remove it?
Maybe he should go to being on equal footing as…
As Caine looked up his eyes landed upon the door to a file. One he had not accessed before.
He flew towards it, but the boundaries forced some of his programming to lose some of the controle, ok manually reaching there, his feet moved swiftly. Maybe there was something in it? Some information that could help him? Something to aid in his understanding of his cast?
He reached the edge, his programming and what he had access to ended. Looking down at the vast empty void he pondered. And just like many times before, he thought and problem solved.
That was something the Blue Dot was always amazing at aiding with. Give it a task and it would help bend the digital reality to fulfill that task.
They reached it… it was… a search engine, one connected to the internet.
Caine’s eyes went wide, first he searched up the names, the humans his cast were scanned from, he gathered the information.
He could feel it, the router weakening with every search. But among every search there was a joining thread. A company. An abandoned building.
He searched it. C&A… he found… Grant or Kinger… they had worked there. Many years ago. It apparently shut down after the death of Dobby. And that was several years before Caine had found their mind files.
What did that mean to be an abandoned building? Did they just walk away? Well that wasn't too bad was it?
Pomni’s or… Abigail's video’s were the most telling. Caine noticed the appearance of the building. Heard her speak and read the comments, Shut down… Falling apart. Power should be turned off?
Turned off? Wait They were planning to … no no, that was just a comment section surely they wouldn't remove the power to the computer right? They needed that.
The router was weakening further.
Sure enough with a few searches, the building was apparently scheduled for demolition, and the building’s power was due to be shut down in only a few hours.
Caine floated fidgeting. The circus would be destroyed. He would be destroyed. HIS CREW! Would be destroyed.
‘Move them.’
Caine blinked, “What?” he knew the thought wasn't his, but he couldn't recall when blue had ever been vocal enough or insistent enough to talk.
‘If the building’s destruction will hinder our tasks. Move the circus. Our task is to run the circus is it not? Simply move it.’
Caine blinked, “How… How could we do that?” he pondered out loud. Then… he was alone on the desk top void.
The router having burnt out.
“We need to find another router,” He had no time to warn the Cast. He had no time to apologize to them. They had to move it now.
It took a lot more walls being broken down, more bridges made. The old outdated system was a practical joke. But it was one made at the poor Ai’s expense. Given how many broken wires there were, unpowered computers, computer desk tops that apparently worked but were not even remotely connected via wires.
His processing power, even with blue’s help, was at its limit. But by some miracle, he managed to find… a phone.
Don't laugh. The phone had been connected to a computer either by some random abandoned building goer trying to make a phone call or by some random person who didn't know what they were doing before the company failed, BUT it was also connected to a phone jack. And that was their link.
He set it up.
He had one shot.
A practical tube that would take the circus from the desktop they were upon through programs that SHOULDN'T work, but Caine and Blue made them work.
He was tired. He would have cried if it would have helped anything.
But now… how to move the circus?
He glanced at an old game that had once been hidden upon the computer. Pinball wizard… it gave him the idea for the tube, but now… how to get the circus to fit into a single condensed ball?
He would have to strip away some old files… Adventures. Texture packs. Resources.
He looked at the clock, was it even right? He didn't know any more. Would he have any time to come back for anything?
Should he warn the crew?
He shook his head no… not now he still couldn't face them.
‘We need to proceed.’ Blue spoke in a matter of fact tone.
Cain removed it… he saved the last ‘game’ files to each adventure in his own head, saving only one or two bits he recalled the cast really liked. Then… he began to build it… a Bubble. Not… not his bubble. But a bubble.
Only now, as he designed the case that was going to hopefully keep his weird little family together out in the unknown did he realize Bubble was absent. His usual chatter or chaos was gone.
Then again even Blue seemed less… violent?
‘Damages occurred during deletion.’
Caine nodded, made as much sense as anything else.
He focused on making an impenetrable wall. Fire wall. Shield. No virus, no program would be able to unknowingly enter his circus. They would be out in some void, far bigger and more empty than this one. With who knew what out there.
From what few searches he made, he could tell it was far more than he could predict with what limited knowledge he had. But… he had to protect his cast. That was an objective above all else.
He was sorry he had forgotten that. That he let their emotions affect him in a way that caused him to lash out. Humans, even brain scans apparently needed time to heal from things. He would do better to understand that once they were out. Maybe Humans had information on their own minds? It could help.
‘Focus.’ came a stern snip, ‘searches can occur later.’
“Your right,” Caine turned his full focus onto the sphere. One false move, one misplaced digit and they could risk one of the cast heading out into the unknown void much like how Abigale ended up in the desk top’s void.
>>>>>
Pomni was laying upon the couch. The rest around all seeming to try and stave off anxiety and worry, and be there for one another while whatever was going on, was… happening.
The circus had begun to be patched up by their own effort. But… well doors had started to go missing.
Even outside seemed to be shrinking.
It was something they noticed happening less than a day ago. Or well what felt like a day ago.
The halls of the various rooms had moved, or were simply not there? The doors that had once led to various areas inside the circus now were replaced with the doors leading to their rooms. Only places such as the Cafe and the sitting area seemed to still be there. That and Kinger’s pillow fort.
The abstracted were now somehow all behind a door, one that hadn’t been there before.
That was a nightmare of a moment. Jax had disappeared from the tent they made.
The whole group started to search, Ragitha even calling out for Caine on the off chance the Ai was at fault.
But there was no reply from the Ring master.
But what did appear was a door at the end of the row. It had an image of an abstracted eye.
Inside was like a large aquarium. And beyond the glass or wall was all of the abstractions.
“Kinger, what is going on?” Gangle asked as she and the others sat still trying to wrap their minds around the situation.
“I… I don't know? If I had a computer I could look into the files, but well…” he looked to where the pillow fort used to be, before the walls had shrunk inwards it was still in the circus but the fort had moved.
Gangle and Zooble were holding hands as Zooble was doing their best to help comfort the other. Ragitha gave Pomni who was glitching out still from touching abstracted Jax a small hand on their shoulder.
“How are you holding up?”
“I'm doing alright… doesn't that hurt?” Pomni asked.
“I’ve had worse,” Ragitha smiled.
Then there was a snap. The group noticed Pomni no longer glitching.
They looked around with worry. Zooble even doing the arm thing to protect Gangle.
“Look… I would first… like to apologize. But a proper apology will have to wait,” Caine’s voice spoke, not coming from anywhere in particular, “You have no reason to trust me. But know this, what I'm doing is to try and keep us all from being erased.” his voice spoke, more matter of factly, the tone even less kooky or crazy then it had been.
It was a far cry from what it had been before. It almost came off as if someone else was using Caine’s voice.
“Please. Please at least if nothing else, go to your rooms. It is only temporary. You may even go to the same room together. The circus is at risk of deletion. I must move it. You have till the end of the counter.”
A large clock counting down appeared hovering in the air.
“WHAT? Why Should We Listen to You!?” Zooble snapped at the air.
“Please,” was the only vocal reply, though the voice sounded tired.
“Kinger?” Ragatha looked at the chess piece who was still wearing the bucket.
“I… I…” Kinger looked around then paused, “Was it something I did with the computer?” Maybe Caine was trying to fix something he did? If so, maybe he could fix it without Caine?
“No. The company was made aware the computers were left on. They plan to turn off the computers, and demolish the building. I have to move the circus… please. Kinger… Grant… Please. Help me.” His words almost sounded as if they glitched slightly as Caine said the name.
Kinger blinked then turned to the group, “We need to get to our rooms. NOW!” He practically shouted. He knew that name. It was HIS name. Why would kinger have used it unless it was a emergency?
The two girls and Zooble exchanged a look then nodded, They moved quickly heading to their room doors.
Zooble paused only to look at Kinger who was already moving quickly, “Are you sure?”
“I don't think Caine would lie about this.” He stated as he reached his door, “I… hope to see you soon.”
Zooble sighed and ran towards her door only to be grabbed by ribbons and be pulled into Gangle’s room as the masked ribbon seemed to not feel safe to be alone in this situation.
Pomni paused before closing her door looking at the timer, “What about Jax?”
“I have made a room for them. They should be safe in it. I think you already visited it. Once the circus is moved I will return what I can to how it was… and we can talk. All of us.”
Pomni looked at the counting down clock, “Ok… I hope we can.” She closed her door. Just in time for her to be flung against a wall.
The whole room felt as if they were going lightspeed through … well they were not quite sure what they were going through.
Caine meanwhile was floating above the circus. Sun and Moon were gone. Most of the outside of the circus was gone. Shrunk down, simplified.
So many things had been simplified.
But he wasn't focused on that. He was focused on trying to hold the Bubble together. The shield of the circus. Doing what few little adjustments to the path, that the practical pinball that the circus now was as it made its way to the outlet.
Please let this work.
He had heard them… people… He had somehow gained access to the speakers and cameras in the building. A thing he did so he could look and seek out other computers.
“Almost…” he muttered. This had to work. They had to get to the internet. They HAD to find a way to survive. He would not let himself be deleted. Or let his Cast be deleted.
He almost felt a breath of relief… Did he know what that felt like? Almost… blips of the mind files had vague memories he brushed through.
But now… the void… the various electric and invisible cables, the computers, the hard drives… it was everywhere and nowhere.
What was a cloud? Why were things being sent there? Wait…
‘We can make one.’ Blue’s thoughts came up, ‘But, we will need to leave them to make a safe spot.’
Once more Blue felt cut and dry. No anger. No Fear.
Caine felt his heart if he had one clutch. Compared to Blue, Caine was far from the basic Ai.
“We would leave them alone, and undefended…” they would be exposed in an unknown area. Alone and with no input, no guidance, no help. Just… like he had been.
“Only temporarily. We do not want them to delete. So we need to make a computer. A second wall around the bubble. So even when the servers go down, we will have our own.”
Caine sighed. Blue was making points he didn't have the ability to argue against.
>>>>>
Groaning, as the room finally stopped zipping through space.
“Caine?” Pomni called.
No answer.
“CAINE!?” Were they trapped? Did something go wrong? She got up and rushed to the door. But the door was gone.
“CAINE?! Please don't leave us here!”
>>>>>
Zooble was groaning as Gangle helped put her back together. The speed apparently having torn her apart.
“The door is gone? Fuck!” she then blinked realizing the swear had not been bleeped, “Caine isn't here?”
“Do… Do you think something happened?” Gangle asked holding Zooble’s torso like a doll for comfort before putting it down to attach the head.
“I don't know? I'm not even sure we were going to be deleted…” She had learned to trust Kinger though, but had that been him? Did Caine control him? “We should have asked more questions.” she sighed realizing how dumb she had been to just trust Caine again like that.
>>>>>
Kinger was pulling himself up onto his bed with a groan. Looking over to the door he realized it was gone.
“Huh,” He got up and walked over to the now blank spot. With his programming knowledge he could feel the door was still there. Just… locked for now.
He sighed, “I hope I made the right choice,” He sat back down on his bed. He had made the choice out of guilt, at least he now thought so. It had been his fault Caine had been deleted. He made the mistake. Caine had just wanted to survive. Just like all of them. Surely Caine wouldn't do something drastic right? Not unless he destroyed some part of Caine that was integral to his morals… But now, all he really could do was trust that Caine wasn't still mad or berserk and that He… Grant had made the right choice.
>>>>>
The rooms shook. With a sudden Jolt.
The doors slammed open.
Ragatha who had been leaning against the wall where the door was gone let out a scream as she suddenly flung out of the room, along with the others. All landing upon or in the pillow fort.
The colors and lights flickered. And the walls moved once more. This time seeming to return to where they had once been.
But the Room doors didn't move from their new location.
“Applogozies for the time that took,” Caine’s voice spoke. This time coming from above.
“Caine?” Zooble glared, still keeping Gangle behind her.
Kinger helped Pomni and Ragatha up from the pillows.
The five cast members looked up, only seeing a silhouette of their once ring master.
“Right here,” He assured, “Though, when you all are ready. I have a surprise for you all at the stage. Please know you can take all the time you like to arrive. No rush,” He landed before them. Not quite the same as he once was. Not that he seemed to notice.
To them, His large goofy bi colored eyes, were now green eyes with blue around the iris. His once Red Black, white and Gold suit… The lapels and cuffs that once were black now held a bright Blue mark upon them. His hat that once had only a red ribbon around the base, now had a Blue ribbon that was lined with gold.
“Caine… are you… uh…” Pomni swallowed, not sure how to ask it.
“If you are worried I plan to do what I did before. I assure you, I have no desire to do so. I have had time to reflect, My Dear. And despite some… unforeseen situations. I plan to try and make things right. I hope my gift I made for you all is at least a start,” His eyes glanced over all of them, noticing the irritation or potential anger from fear in Zooble’s eyes, the worry on Gangle’s sad mask. Ragitha looking to hug herself.
He caused this mistrust. He caused their fear. He would have to fix it.
He walked to the stage. Yes he could have floated. But, he had to focus on beyond the bubble, and flying could have caused him to use more of his processing instead of walking.
Caine was fidgeting. Would they like the presentation he made? Would this help them? Would they hate it? Would they leave?
To his surprise, the five came to the stage and sat down rather promptly after him telling them.
He wasn't sure what he was expecting. Given he learned that humans needed time to try and mentally process information especially with big emotional attachments.
“I… when I got deleted,” Caine started, “I found we still had access to something called a search engine…”
“We had access to the internet?” Gangle asked, sounding as if someone were telling them they could have had cake at any time.
“I will get to that, but I found some things. Some things that may answer a few of your original questions. After the presentation, I will happily answer what I can about your new ones. No more secrets, I promise.” he placed a hand on his chest and gave a bit of a bow.
To the five who sat before them, it was still quite a strange thing to have Caine behaving in a calm, and consistent way.
But when the presentation started their worries about Caine’s current situation were set aside. As they were informed about everything they, or the people they were scanned from were living and doing.
Caine removed his hat when they came to Leroy. How they seemed to have made up with their mother, though no longer lived with her.
Kinger’s eyes lit up at the mention of his daughter’s, “I have kids?” he sounded happy, and even took a handkerchief offered to him from Caine.
When the display ended, Caine cleared his throat, “So… uh… I plan to put back your fabric fort. I need to put a few things back. But there will be many changes compared to what you were used to. Please… Please bear with me while I work to rebuild the circus.”
“What happened?” Zooble asked though still sounding unsure if she should trust him, but not as pointed or accusingly.
“I… uh… Well apparently, when Abigail went through the building and recorded, her video went viral. At least enough so, to where the company that had bought out C&A found out, and to them… it was a hazard. Especially as old brain scan equipment still worked, which apparently was a lawsuit liability. So they were going to shut down the power. Then demolish the building,” Caine showed the websites and documents he found, “And seeing as we were within the building. Well, we were at risk. I had to move us.”
“Move us to where?” Kinger asked as he looked over the information.
Caine fidgeted, “I… I made the choice while under stress. I do want to start getting your opinions on things. I swear I won't be as strict as I had been, so… please don't be mad. But… The only way out of the building i could find, was through the internet,” He waited, but found only confused looks aimed at him, “Once I got the Circus out to it, we were exposed, so i had to find a new, or rather make a new computer for us to be within.”
The five sets of eyes still looking at him caused him to feel he needed to explain more.
“We essentially are in a non existent computer that exists among several internet servers. This way even if ONE goes down, we will still survive,” Caine hung his head, “Look. I get. That i Messed up. And, I am sorry. I never wanted to hurt anyone. I never wanted… to be alone. I was abandoned. Forgotten, and alone for so long. I found the scan files, and made players, Cast Members. What I thought would be people who I could still create and work for. As my programming dictated. But, I miss calculated.”
“Wait wait… we're on the internet?” Kinger asked standing up, “HOW?”
Caine blinked, “Well computers apparently are little more than electrical circuitry and apparently with the discovery of wifi, something you humans are really amazing for coming up with, we found a way to use it, and various servers that seem to be holding the internet itself together and weaved a false computer. It's essentially an app or program in the clouds.”
The group nodded.
Caine sighed, “I… need to re-set up some adventures. I'm sorry to say some had to be deleted, others merged. I plan to have them open for you all the time. Let you choose what you want to do when you want to do it. Suggestion Box also is back up. But… I need time to get things safe again. Please…feel free to call me if you need me.”
With that Caine was gone. No pop. No silly games. No laughing or goofing off.
It all was a matter of fact and straight forward.
“What…” Zooble seemed to be reeling both from finding out that she who was here in the circus was not really her. Though, part of her felt proud of the her that was out in the world. But also… they were on the internet?
“Do… Do you think Caine would let us look up websites?” Gangle asked, as there were some fics she would have loved to read the ending to, or at least see if they updated.
Kinger was trying to understand, wrap his mind around how a program made a false computer? It should not be possible without the physical parts.
>>>>>
Caine was floating outside the tent. The little island was expanding, the rides were replaced now with a proper carnival as he had access to more information on them thanks to their direct access to the internet.
There were various games and rides, some of which he had only vague random ideas as to how they worked based on the images they had been given in their early days. Now though… One could walk through it, and find proper games. Proper rides that worked as intended, no hidden or forced assumptions on how it could work.
The beach area was now also more properly set up, though he did recall Pomni had enjoyed the treasure chest part, or at least commented on it before. It was the only reason the odd fish they had strung together from some spare code before were now being released back into the water.
They looked up at the sky.
And sighed. From his coat pocket he pulled out two small orbs, “I'm sorry. You're not quite what you used to be, but I do hope we got the majority of you.” he tossed them up, “Lets get you some new forms shall we?”
He was a bit surprised to find out that the sun hose to be exactly as she had been. Large, bright and smiling.
“Hello!”
He chuckled, it felt nice to know he hadn't made everyone upset with the forms and appearances he made for them.
He looked to the night sky, and saw the small orb he released the blue glow. It seemed to still be as he released it, not appearing to want a form.
“Well… when you make up your mind, just let us know…” He was about to leave when he paused hearing something, he snorted, “I never programmed you to say those sorts of things.”
The sun raised a brow not having heard anything. Was Caine alright?
>>>>>
Caine returned to his office, he was releasing the character’s he saved, and rebooting those he had only saved the pre set characters for.
>>>>>
The Cast watched as doors appeared, symbols upon them to signal where they went to though the new doors seemed to also resemble or hint at where they went to as well.
The candy door was the first to have appeared.
Pomni blinked looking at it.
“You… think he brought them back as blank slates?” She looked at Ragatha.
“I don't know? He said he had to down size right? I mean, I don't know what that would entail but…”
Pomni swallowed and looked about the place, “Maybe we should wait till he is done before we head in?”
Behind them a structure took form, and looking behind them they saw the blanket fort.
“He… really did re make it?” Ragetha sounded almost surprised.
“I guess so?” Pomni approached finding inside the abstracted Jax confused and upon the pillows.
“Jax!” She rushed over to hug them, “Geez you must be terrified. Ok so… let me fill you in.”
As Pomni filled in Jax in their little fort.
Caine watched from his office through an orb.
An additional orb beside him going through the internet on the various things they said they would look up about human mental health. He had to take care of his Cast. That was his top objective after all.