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“Drop the crystal right here or I’m going to kill Frank!” Spoke let out a manic laugh as he held his mace to the sniffer’s throat.
MinerMan’s expression was panicked, his people were dying around him, even Frank, a literal animal. “Frank did nothing!” He pleaded.
“I’m going to put Frank on a lead and dangle him over the void until- I’m going to connect this fence post to lava until it burns and then Mr. Frank is going to drop into the void here slowly but surely.”
Spoke’s eyes were wide and deranged, not an ounce of reason found within them. His words intense and impatient, “Drop the crystal! What are you doing standing there!?
MinerMan was about to respond, try and reason despite this when, “I’m not going to let you do that, Spoke.”
Spoke’s head flew up to where Minute stood on a rafter, having mined out the roof above it. He was being challenged. Minute was challenging him. Did Minute think he was strong enough to stop him? Did he think Spoke was too weak? Spoke was not weak anymore.
“Oh really.” He laughed out, then windcharged into the air, bringing his mace down on Frank.
“Frank!” MinerMan cried out in despair. His people, and more importantly Frank, were dead. Death messages wrang out in chat, a new ping every second.
Minute realized he needed to act fast or there would be nobody left to save. He jumped down and began macing Null members the best he could.
The Null backed away when their totems popped and began covering their heads with blocks.
Spoke noticed what Minute was doing and moved to kill MinerMan. He needed that crystal.
He windcharged into the air, pulled out his mace, and smashed into the totemless player, killing him instantly.
Minute watched in horror as the final member fell. He failed. Despite this he kept attacking.
Null moved to protect Spoke while he picked up the crystal. Minute tried to mace them, but they strategically kept under the blocks they placed.
He needed to retreat; there was nothing left here. He shot up into the air one last time, this time flying towards the exit.
He was almost there when a sudden piercing pain erupted through one of his wings causing him to plummet painfully to the floor, skidding across the marble ground.
He looked back to see a Null with a crossbow. Poison seeped through the wound causing even more damage He struggled to his feet only for another to kick him back down, they raised their sword to finish him.
Spoke jumped in front of the blade, standing over Minute's body, “Prisoner! We’re taking him prisoner!” Spoke stammered out too quickly.
The Null instantly let their sword down, putting it away to instead pull out a mix between a weakness and slowness potion.
Minute felt all of his strength evaporate as he was splashed, his vision twisted until he passed out against the cold floor.
_____
Minute awoke to a slight swaying movement. He felt his back uncomfortably pressed into something. Subconsciously, he tried to move his feet forward, only for them to hit something.
This snapped Minute into alertness, instantly waking up. Looking around he was in a cage, copper bars enclosing him. He pulled himself to his feet only for the cage to rock slightly.
He tried using his wings to regain balance only to feel something trapping one wing to his back, in a panic he looked back to find that it was, thankfully, not restrained, instead neatly done bandages wrapped it.
After that was cleared up, he grabbed the bars and looked out at the scene around him.
He was suspended above the ground, looking down as best he saw a pit of spikes beneath him. The sight made him more careful about rocking the cage. The windows beyond the cage had copper bars on them as well but that looked more for aesthetic purposes than containment.
He turned to see the other side of the room only to doubletake at one sight.
It was Spoke… He was sitting against a wall in the corner. Sticking out like a sore thumb against the yellow of the floor and white of the walls.
His helmet was falling over his eyes and his breathing was slowed. Tail wrapping around his legs as he sat curled up in the corner, he was asleep.
Minute debated for a second whether he should wake him. Before remembering he was the one imprisoned above the pit of spikes, “Spoke!”
Nothing. Spoke stayed fast asleep. Minute remembered Spoke being a heavy sleeper, due to often being on the run, he could fall asleep in any conditions and noise level.
Mapicc, however, was always alert, he fell asleep easily as well but even the slightest change to the environment and he was up. This kept them from getting snuck up on while asleep.
Unfortunately, Mapicc wasn’t here to help wake him up this time.
“Spoke!” He tried again louder
He slightly stirred.
“SPOKE!” He yelled as loudly as possible. Causing the cage to rock slightly.
Spoke jolted upright. Instantly on his feet, clutching his totem tightly to his chest… was that an enchantment shine on it? Whatever, that wasn't a concern right now.
Spoke frantically looked around before locking eyes with Minute in the cage. His face lit up at the sight, “Look who finally decided to wake up!” He said teasingly, despite the fact he was the one asleep just now.
Minute glared intensely at the voidling below, “Where am I Spoke. Why am I here?” He made his tone as stern as possible.
Spoke just smiled wider, it wasn’t a friendly one, “Oh! That! You’re in my castle! Isn’t it great!” He threw his arms in the air for emphasis.
His tone went darker for the next words, “As for why you’re here. I couldn’t just let you continue ruining my plans, could I?”
Minute felt a chill go up his spine at the expression on Spoke’s face, “Spoke bro, you need to listen to me. Let me go, this is wrong, you know it is.”
Spoke just let out a laugh, “I gave you your chance to go free! And guess what. You locked me and my army in the end. This is the only way to stop you from ruining my plans. And so what if it's wrong, the server is wrong. You've been on it just as long as me, yet you still can't see it." Spoke placed a hand on his helmet, adjusting its position. It was too big for him; all the armor was.
“Spoke, it's not too late! You can still- Aaaanndd I’m done here, I have crystals to find.” Spoke interrupted, suddenly spinning around and walking towards the exit.
Minute yelled after him, “After everything, you're just going to leave me here!?”
“Yep!” Spoke chirped back.
Minute knew it would be futile to continue yelling after Spoke. He wasn’t listening right now. Instead he dropped to the floor with a groan of frustration.
_____
Minute tried to keep himself busy even in the cell. He thought up escape plans, negotiation plans, general ideas to stop Spoke. Hours went by, yet it all went nowhere. No plans to stop Spoke could be done from inside this cell.
His stomach growled, drawing attention to his ticking down hunger bar. Hopefully Spoke would bring him food soon.
Luckily, he spotted Spoke walking down the hall just outside, mumbling to himself about something he couldn’t pick up. He was about to walk past Minute’s room when Minute called out for him, “Spoke! I need food Spoke!”
He froze and looked into the room. He seemed distracted, eyes looking more frantic than usual. He just stared for a long moment before he registered what Minute said and put on a smile, “Right.”
He walked over and pillared up to the cage. Passing some golden carrots through the gap in the bars. “Here you go.”
Minute took them though something caught his eye as Spoke’s hand passed through the bars. His fingers were badly burned.
Spoke noticed him staring, Uh something wrong?”
“Are you going to treat those?” He settled on. Looking to Spoke's face, who seemed genuinely confused on what he meant.
Spoke looked down in the direction Minute had been staring only for his eyes to widen slightly in surprise, “Oh. I didn’t notice.”
Before Minute could reply asking how the hell he didn’t notice, another player whose name was entirely composed of underscores barged in, “There you are Spoke. We have coordinates to a quite wealthy player’s base, we believe he may possess a third end crystal.” A pit formed in Minute’s stomach.
Spoke turned around to face the null, putting on his leader act, “Prepare a group of null for an attack.” Underscore nodded and took off, Spoke broke the tower he built up and followed him, “Goodbye Minutetech.” He waved as he left.
Minute didn’t grace him with a reply.
_____
A few hours later Spoke was back looking quite annoyed this time. Minute hoped that meant he failed.
“Minute! There you are!” He put on an act once he entered the room, “I think you’ll be delighted to see,” He held up the three crystals, “We got them, we’re nearly free!” Spoke declared excitedly.
Minute glared down at him, “I’m not Spoke, I’m really not.”
Spoke ignored him, instead sitting down at the pit of spikes, dangling his legs over without a care.
“Stop that, Spoke.” Minute shifting uncomfortably.
Spoke gave him a funny look, “I’m wearing fully enchanted netherite armor.”
Minute decided not to push, if he wanted to get impaled that was on him, “Why are you still here, and not out looking for crystals?”
“There isn’t much else to do while waiting for news from Commander.” He said in an almost bored tone.
“So you want to talk with me.”
“Who else would I talk to? If you haven’t noticed, nobody here is exactly talkative. Besides, you're a million times more fun than Jamato.” The last words slipped out without him noticing.
“Whose Jamato?” Minute asked curiously only for Spoke’s face to go pale, “Anyways! I’m sure Commander has found something by now, bye Minute.” He was out of the room before Minute could even respond, leaving him in confusion.
_____
When Spoke entered next he looked extremely annoyed. Tail flicking in agitation.
That was a good sign, for Minute at least. That meant they were struggling to find the fourth.
Spoke began pacing around the room, mumbling to himself. It was quite odd of Spoke to specifically do this in his room. Minute pieced together most of what was happening. All the civilizations they showed up to were completely empty.
Minute realized what was happening. Before he was imprisoned he went to every civilization he could find and informed them about the Null invasion. That was why he went to MinerMan's civilization. It seems the civilizations he warned spread the knowledge to everyone else.
At least one thing worked in his favor.
Minute was pulled from his thoughts by Spoke towering up to him. He stopped when he was able to look Minute in the eyes, grabbing the bars to keep balance, “You don’t happen to know where they are, do you Minute?” He gazed suspiciously into Minute’s eyes.
When Minute averted his gaze he realized he did in fact, “Where are the players.” Spoke asked seriously.
Minute met his gaze head-on, glaring, “And why should I tell you? I’d endanger them all, besides most of the End is poor and no one has use for ghast tears here, they won’t have anything for you.”
Spoke crossed his arms over his chest, “Fine, don’t tell me. Just know as long as the end portal stays broken, they are trapped with me. Null will find them eventually.”
_____
Spoke came back with a dazed expression. He didn’t even seem aware he entered the room or that he sat back over the pit of spikes.
Minute didn’t know what to say, did that mean he failed to find the players? Was he giving up?
Without looking up Spoke said, “There gone every last one of them. We found them, the cannon worked.”
Cannon? Wait, No. He couldn’t have. That would mean all those players gone. Minute couldn’t find any words to say, no desperate pleas, no words of disappointment, nothing.
“I know where the final crystal is as well. I am about to go retrieve it, and then I will finally be free.” Spoke sounded completely dead despite everything going in his favor.
Minute finally found words to respond with then, “And how does that make you feel?”
Spoke let out a small chuckle, “What are you, a therapist?”
“No but you clearly need one.”
“Jamato, he- he escaped, he has it, he won’t just give it to me. He wants me dead, wants me trapped.” Spoke looked up to Minute, eyes boring into him, “I can’t be trapped any longer, Minute.”
“I never wanted to trap you here, I had no choice.”
“It doesn’t matter, there’s nothing left for me here, I’m almost free.” Was this even Spoke?
Minute narrowed his eyes at him, “Then why did you come back?”
The simple question shocked Spoke and snapped his eyes back into focus, “What?”
“Why did you come back here, you could be after the crystal right now yet you’re just sitting here. You’re not gloating your victory either.
Spoke thought for a second, “I don’t know.”
The three words caused the two to fall into an uncomfortable silence. After a few minutes Spoke couldn’t take the silence, “You know, this cell, it doesn’t compare to the ones I had in Purgatory.” He said bitterly.
"At first, I was a normal prisoner like the rest, an average cell. I was allowed out sometimes to grab food, rotten flesh. That was all we were allowed.” Spoke’s frame showed it; it was so much lighter than Minute remembered.
“When I tried to escape, to kill Jamato he decided that was too gracious. Next I was on one block, standing above lava. He left me on exactly half a heart and forced me to throw my food into lava. I wasn’t even allowed the rotten flesh. I felt the lava roasting my skin and was supposed to stay there forever. Everything I need and nothing more, that’s what Jamato said.” He let out a pained laugh bordering on a cry, “He was going to execute Jumper and Mapicc in front of me despite that! As if everything wasn’t enough. I wasn’t going to let him though; I couldn’t let him. The only reason I escaped was because Jamato forgot to check my inventory, I had a fire resistance potion and a book, my only hope.”
“Spoke…” Minute didn’t know how to respond to this information. Deciding Spoke needed to get this out he asked, “What happened next?”
“I saved them, I did it! But we didn’t escape, instead Jamato forced us and the other players to battle in a hunger games. The last one standing would be set free. Friends betrayed me, allies died. In the end he tried to convince Mapicc to kill me. He failed of course, Mapicc would- he would never.” Spoke’s voice strained at the part about Mapicc.
He was going to send me back to spawn instead of killing me, make me abandon my friends and return with nothing. Even at spawn I wouldn’t be free, he planned to monitor me, if I did anything to try and help the players Jamato would kill my friends.”
His tail slapped against the ground in resentment, “I escaped once again but not before seeing the ruins of the Spawn. Have you seen it Minute? You’ve been in the End haven’t you? There isn’t anything left of Spawn to save, it's all gone.”
This was all too much, too fast for Minute, he needed a second to process. Spoke was skipping details for sure whether intentional or not he didn’t know, chunks of the story seemed to be missing. Spawn? What happened to Spawn? Last he heard they entrusted it to Parrot. Minute didn’t know him well, but he seemed trustworthy.
"With the help of Underscore, I snuck back into the arena. He gave me gear and things to stay hidden. The only condition being to prove I was stronger than Jamato, stronger than everyone. So, I did, I killed the same players I planned to protect if they dared disobey me. I lied to Jumper and Mapicc. I amassed a large army. It was going perfectly until Jumper betrayed me, she took my army and fled instead of taking down Jamato with me.
So, I gathered more players, only for Jamato to kill them all with a machine the likes of which I’d never seen before. Then he took away all of my items and made me stand in front of an arrow cannon. I had nothing once again. I waited and waited and it was only Underscore who came. He brought the army Jumper stole back and disarmed the cannon. And then we defeated Jamato and I took over Null as its new commander.” He was about to ask what happened to Mapicc when Spoke kept going.
Spoke fell onto his back, feet still dangling over the lava, “Those prisons were worse than this.” It didn’t sound like he was talking about Minute’s cage anymore, “Even if this is better its still a cage, I won’t be trapped again. Never again.”
Minute felt Spoke’s desperation, everything made so much more sense now. Spoke had just escaped a horrifying series of events and was coping the only way he knew how. He was traumatized and Minute just needed to convince his friend he could help him, “Spoke, I'm sorry that happened to you, promise you I'll let you go. Just stop this and we can find the final crystal together, defeat Null together.
“Null is the only thing keeping me from being trapped- I can’t just!” Spoke protested.
“Or is it the only thing trapping you.” Minute countered, A statement rather than question.
Spoke’s eyes shot up to his, shaky and fragile. The words hit harder than a mace. Minute was breaking through, “Spoke, I want to help you, please let me.” He said softly, like he was soothing a frightened child. In a way he was.
“You- you’re the one who's in the cage- you can’t-” His words were uncertain.
“Spoke you- Spoke!” Minute was interrupted by Spoke’s commander entering the room. Spoke turned to him instantly when his name was called, “There you are, we need to get moving, who knows how long Jamato is willing to wait.”
Spoke wiped tears from his eyes that he hadn’t noticed form and pulled himself from the ground, “O- Of course, are the cannons readied on his position just in case.” He put on his best composed, leader voice.
“Wait, Spoke! Listen to me!” Minute begged, his voice caused Spoke to stiffen.
As Spoke turned to face Minute, the commander placed a hand on his shoulder drawing his attention back to Underscore, “Yes, everything is readied. The army is prepared as well in case anything goes wrong.”
Spoke stood up as straight as he could, the action making him look taller than he was, “Good, but only send them if I give the word, we can’t afford this going wrong.”
“Spoke, don’t do this, you can’t just take over the server- you can't become the next Ashswag!” Both flinched at the last words, the words leaving Minute before he could stop them.
The two just stood, staring at each other, until Underscore brought Spoke back to the mission at hand, “Spoke we need to go now.”
“Right, right. Goodbye Minute, we’ll be back once the portal is respawned.” As Spoke left the room, Underscore gave Minute an irritated glare. Impressive considering he lacked any facial features. Something told Minute his interruptions weren't coincidences.
_____
Minute waited in the cell, fists in his hair from frustration. He was so close. Spoke almost listened. He nearly convinced Spoke to stop. His wings wrapped around himself in useless comfort.
A few minutes later he heard footsteps approaching. That was particularly odd considering none of the Null made noises, with the only exception being Underscore. Spoke shouldn’t be back yet either. He looked up to see a white-haired figure enter the room, he was wearing a cracked mast and was a bug hybrid of sorts.
He checked over his shoulders every few seconds, seemingly paranoid about the noise he made but trying to be quick as well.
“Who are you?” Minute eyed the stranger with suspicion.
“It will explain in here.” He pillared up. Once he was at height level with Minute, he passed a book and an enderpearl through the bars. The second after Minute took the items the man stasised away.
The whole interaction left Minute confused and with a million different questions. He looked down at the book in his hand. Maybe the answers were in here?
_____
After pearling through the bars, Minute snuck down the halls until he found an armory. Inside was a chest containing all of his items. He also used the room to restock his supplies
Checking his wing it seemed to have mostly healed; it would hurt to fly for a bit but that didn’t matter right now.
He arrived at the battle just in time to intercept Spoke.
The battle between them was chaotic and emotional. Minute begged Spoke to stop while Spoke tried convincing Minute to leave in his own way.
During the battle Minute experienced the full power of the mentioned cannons. Jamato used these on iron and copper players?
Spoke seemed to have recovered from their conversation, no longer in a listening mood. Nothing Minute said held any weight, Spoke just ignored him, he was too close to being free.
When Spoke teleported away Minute felt a great sense of loss. Torn between thinking Spoke was too far gone and remembering their conversation; how broken Spoke sounded, how desperate he was for freedom.
As he stood over the portal Minute decided he would help him, he would come back for Spoke, he just couldn’t right now. He needed to save the rest of the server from Spoke first.