Characters present: Wizard, Prince
Date: 4/4/24
Season: 3

[The Wizard approaches Prince’s mansion tentatively. Cinder had told him previously that Prince had claimed to be leaving, and that he wanted to say goodbye. Only today, just as the Wizard was leaving for the ritual, he found a letter on his desk from Prince. It told him in a sentence or two that Prince was serious, and that he’d be gone for good, and that if the Wizard ever really cared about him he should come and say goodbye. The Wizard knew he’d be late for Cinder’s Ritual, but he also knew that many times Prince had been looked over, and that it had led to worse things happening for everyone.

The Wizard trudges through the snow, his communicator in hand. He shoots off a message to Cinder, “I'll be over soon, something came up out of the blue that I need to check on quick. If you need to, go ahead without me, I know you'll be alright.”

The Wizard stops before the entrance to the mansion, staring into the darkness within. He clears his throat.]

[22:09:50] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Prince!

[22:09:58] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I got your letter, I'm here!

[The Wizard looks around at the house, hearing the droning moans of the Wardens, and the clicking of sculk sensors.][

[22:12:03] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Surely he can hear me through this...thing

[Prince’s voice booms out from all around the Wizard.]

[22:12:15] <✦[rp] Prince> OH! NOW YOU COME

[22:12:22] <✦[rp] Prince> give me a moment u old fart

[The Wizard looks around.]

[22:12:23] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Where are you?

[22:12:39] <✦[rp] Prince> just go to the stairs place

[The Wizard walks carefully inside. Prince’s voice now seems to come from one location.]

[22:12:46] <✦[rp] Prince> i was preparing my sick majiks

[22:12:55] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Mag-iks?

[The Wizard turns around to find Prince standing behind him.]

[22:13:05] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Prince what in the hell is going on?

[22:13:10] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I'm supposed to be halfway across the server right now

[22:13:19] <✦[rp] Prince> that was a joke btw. i dont have any majiks

[The Wizard crosses his arms.]

[22:13:28] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I see

[22:13:29] <✦[rp] Prince> would be funny if i did wouldnt it

[22:13:35] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I guess?

[22:13:38] <✦[rp] The Wizard> What's going on here?

[22:13:40] <✦[rp] Prince> anyways did i interrupt something

[22:13:47] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Yes, Cinder and I were-

[22:13:53] <✦[rp] The Wizard> It doesn't matter, I'd like to get back to it

[He sighs.]

[22:13:58] <✦[rp] The Wizard> But I figured I should come

[22:14:09] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Your letter seemed...urgent

[22:14:12] <✦[rp] Prince> well yeah

[22:14:14] <✦[rp] Prince> im leaving

[22:14:16] <✦[rp] Prince> and ure like

[Prince looks away.]

[22:14:21] <✦[rp] Prince> the only one who gives a shit about me

[22:14:25] <✦[rp] Prince> i think

[The Wizard lets out a little breath.]

[22:14:33] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I suppose I do

[22:14:36] <✦[rp] The Wizard> In a way

[22:14:50] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Though Cinder did tell me in no uncertain terms what you did to Joco-

[22:14:44] <✦[rp] Prince> ion's dead. ceph never liked me i think.

[22:14:50] <✦[rp] Prince> i... think that's the only two

[22:14:56] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Ion's-

[22:15:01] <✦[rp] The Wizard> What happened?

[22:15:27] <✦[rp] Prince> fuck if i know, the chunk of me that know was in a nether star at that time

[22:15:34] <✦[rp] Prince> man you really havent been caught up huh

[22:15:42] <✦[rp] The Wizard> No, I've been working to get Cinder's-

[22:15:48] <✦[rp] The Wizard> It doesn't matter, yeah I've been busy

[22:16:10] <✦[rp] Prince> well while you were helping ur cringe ass bird guy. ive been baking

[22:16:34] <✦[rp] Prince> did u know that ae came here to chastise me about no 2 did to joco?

[22:16:38] <✦[rp] Prince> rude

[Prince pulls out a Command Block.]

[22:16:19] <✦[rp] The Wizard> By the Void-

[22:16:23] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Where did you get that?!

[22:16:44] <✦[rp] Prince> oh

[22:16:46] <✦[rp] Prince> baked it

[22:16:50] <✦[rp] Prince> this is the thing i baked

[22:16:58] <✦[rp] The Wizard> That's what you were getting those material for?!

[22:17:02] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I can't believe it-

[22:17:04] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Does it-

[22:17:07] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Does it actually work?

[22:17:23] <✦[rp] The Wizard> By the Void I haven't seen one of those in....well a long time

[22:17:36] <✦[rp] Prince> uhhhh... i mean if u were powerful enough to interface with it, sure

[22:18:10] <✦[rp] The Wizard> And you're saying...you are?

[22:18:15] <✦[rp] Prince> what? no

[22:18:22] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Then why the hell do you have one?!

[22:18:30] <✦[rp] Prince> cus its powerful

[The Wizard pinches the bridge of his nose.]

[22:18:39] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Of course

[22:18:39] <✦[rp] Prince> and it can power stuff

[22:18:45] <✦[rp] Prince> im no expert okay!!

[22:18:54] <✦[rp] Prince> i can make it, and i can harness it

[22:19:00] <✦[rp] Prince> i cant command the command block beyond that

[22:19:27] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Huh.

[22:19:28] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I'm figuring this has something to do with the "leaving" you mentioned?

[22:19:34] <✦[rp] Prince> ya

[22:19:36] <✦[rp] Prince> tis the power source

[22:19:53] <✦[rp] Prince> cus breaking through the barriers between worlds is Tough ill have u know

[The Wizard sucks in another breath.]

[22:20:19] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Yeah, it is

[22:20:28] <✦[rp] Prince> the command block- ill call it tcb for now- makes it easier

[22:20:40] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Prince, we can just call it what it is

[22:20:53] <✦[rp] Prince> i dont want to say it every time. its a mouthful

[22:20:59] <✦[rp] The Wizard> ...Right

[22:20:28] <✦[rp] The Wizard> So you're leaving then, today?

[22:20:32] <✦[rp] Prince> yea

[22:20:40] <✦[rp] Prince> well i wanted you to send me off. i guess

[The Wizard stares at the Command Block, he pulls his communicator from his pocket, and shakes his head.]

[22:21:08] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Alright, if you can make it speedy, sure I'll send you off

[22:21:24] <✦[rp] Prince> oh. uh. thank you

[22:21:31] <✦[rp] Prince> follow me then

[22:21:36] <✦[rp] Prince> the portal's not here

[22:21:45] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Portal...damn

[Prince leads the Wizard through the mansion. Prince activates a redstone machine and a door into the floor begins opening.]

[22:21:52] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Wait-

[22:21:57] <✦[rp] The Wizard> This isn't some, trap, right?

[22:21:59] <✦[rp] Prince> i renovated

[22:22:05] <✦[rp] The Wizard> ....Alright....

[22:22:08] <✦[rp] Prince> the torture basement is a torture basement no more

[The Wizard sighs. They both walk down into a sculk filled room, where a small portal waits for them.]

[22:22:34] <✦[rp] Prince> this isnt the portal

[22:22:39] <✦[rp] Prince> this is the portal to the portal

[22:22:44] <✦[rp] Prince> step in

[The Wizard steps forward tentatively.]

[22:22:49] <✦[rp] The Wizard> .....I'm trusting you here

[22:22:54] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I know that's probably stupid

[22:24:48] <✦[rp] Prince> im happy you trust me so much

[22:24:56] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Let's hope I don't regret it

[Prince’s voice is sincere for once.]

[22:25:18] <✦[rp] Prince> i dont want you to

[The Wizard steps through the portal. They walk through a tunneled room, and through another portal. They step through together into a portal nestled inside of a geode. Prince begins walking down the path.]

[22:27:09] <✦[rp] Prince> well here's the place

[The Wizard follows. They walk out into an open cavern, where an ancient city lies dead and dormant to their left. To their right, the ground is covered in a carpet of sculk, which crawls up the walls, and clicks audibly as they walk. In front of them, a massive portal rises from the ground, surrounding by complicated bio-machines that have pipes interconnecting them all. Prince pauses in front of it, and the Wizard slowly continues forward to join him.]

[22:27:17] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Oh....

[22:27:21] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Oh Void

[The Wizard slowly turns to look at Prince.]

[22:27:43] <✦[rp] The Wizard> This place....

[22:27:46] <✦[rp] The Wizard> You built this?

[22:27:51] <✦[rp] Prince> yea?? of course

[22:28:16] <✦[rp] The Wizard> It's incredible-

[22:28:29] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Not active yet but-

[The Wizard raises his hand up next to one of the pipes.]

[22:28:39] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Humming

[22:28:46] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I'm assuming that's the sculk, though

[22:28:59] <✦[rp] Prince> oh the humming is only somewhat the sculk

[22:30:04] <✦[rp] Prince> most of the humming is portal energy

[22:30:40] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Seems so...

[22:30:59] <✦[rp] Prince> hard to keep multiple things simultaneously present in two dimensions stable, so the best i could do is some dampening

[Prince points to a machine hanging down, with a space inside to place the command block.]

[22:31:24] <✦[rp] Prince> this is where the command block would go

[22:31:29] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I see

[22:31:40] <✦[rp] The Wizard> A command station, then, clever

[22:32:13] <✦[rp] Prince> im not interfacing with anythin ya know, just taking its power and abilities for guided incredible energy

[22:32:24] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I figured

[22:32:46] <✦[rp] Prince> when i put tcb in, portal's gonna activate and im gonna have to leave

[22:32:43] <✦[rp] The Wizard> So this is it then?

[22:32:48] <✦[rp] Prince> yeah

[22:32:52] <✦[rp] The Wizard> You just plop it in there and then you're gone?

[22:33:00] <✦[rp] Prince> well id have to step through first

[22:33:04] <✦[rp] Prince> but that's it

[The Wizard laughs.]

[22:33:06] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Of course

[22:33:24] <✦[rp] The Wizard> So, what lies beyond the portal for you?

[22:33:29] <✦[rp] Prince> the SCC

[22:33:30] <✦[rp] Prince> home

[22:33:38] <✦[rp] The Wizard> You're going back then, huh

[22:33:45] <✦[rp] Prince> where i can be used effectively

[22:33:45] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Are you sure that's safe?

[22:33:56] <✦[rp] Prince> probably not

[22:34:11] <✦[rp] Prince> ill sooner break there than if i stayed here

[22:34:20] <✦[rp] Prince> those guys really know how to deconstruct something

[22:34:26] <✦[rp] Prince> especially if its interesting...

[22:34:23] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Wouldn't you prefer not breaking at all?

[22:34:35] <✦[rp] Prince> i feel like ive told you before

[22:34:40] <✦[rp] Prince> im made to break

[22:34:52] <✦[rp] Prince> better im breaking cus im useful than when im not

[22:34:57] <✦[rp] The Wizard> You have, I suppose I just have a hard time ingesting that particular sentiment

[22:35:29] <✦[rp] Prince> you make crash test dummies so you know how much damage a car does

[22:35:44] <✦[rp] Prince> same thinking but for everything

[22:35:53] <✦[rp] Prince> for war, mostly

[22:36:30] <✦[rp] Prince> but every profession has a risk of death, so i just gets sent to the dangerous ones

[The Wizard hums softly.]

[22:36:08] <✦[rp] The Wizard> It just feels a waste

[22:36:45] <✦[rp] Prince> its cheaper than robots, surprisingly

[22:36:53] <✦[rp] Prince> well, full robots

[22:37:06] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Yeah, I know that kinda thing, but I meant more a mental waste

[22:37:10] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I mean look what you've made!

[22:37:21] <✦[rp] The Wizard> To think that there are thousands of you out there like that

[22:37:33] <✦[rp] The Wizard> And all of your potential is wasted on, what, being a crash test dummy?

[22:37:28] <✦[rp] Prince> well

[22:37:44] <✦[rp] Prince> most of the mes that are produced arent. uh. as smart as me

[22:37:53] <✦[rp] The Wizard> No?

[The Wizard cocks his head to the side and frowns slightly.]

[22:37:53] <✦[rp] Prince> im special cus of the sculk

[22:38:10] <✦[rp] Prince> you remember how i was before the wedding?

[The Wizard things.]

[22:38:18] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Subservient, but clever

[22:38:25] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Scheming no matter what

[22:38:45] <✦[rp] The Wizard> You had bigger dreams back then, I think

[22:38:49] <✦[rp] The Wizard> If you could even have those

[22:39:02] <✦[rp] Prince> i got my dreams

[22:39:08] <✦[rp] Prince> this form is my dream

[22:39:21] <✦[rp] The Wizard> But the sculk isn't enough?

[22:39:26] <✦[rp] The Wizard> You'd stay if it was, right?

[22:39:30] <✦[rp] Prince> of course

[22:39:41] <✦[rp] The Wizard> So was it ever really a real master?

[22:39:56] <✦[rp] Prince> well it was, ceph just didnt like me enough i guess

[22:40:16] <✦[rp] The Wizard> So the sculk being your master depended on Ceph being your master? Something doesn't add up there, friend

[22:40:45] <✦[rp] Prince> when i was flesh, the sculk was my master

[22:40:57] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Ah, I see-

[22:40:59] <✦[rp] Prince> when i was sculk, the sculk was the sculk

[The Wizard nods.]

[22:41:08] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Yes, now that makes more sense

[22:41:10] <✦[rp] Prince> i was on the same level of them

[22:41:19] <✦[rp] Prince> ceph became the only one above me then

[22:41:33] <✦[rp] Prince> but now ceph rejected me as well

[22:41:38] <✦[rp] Prince> so ive got no place here anymore

[22:41:49] <✦[rp] The Wizard> ....

[The Wizard pauses.]

[22:41:52] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Maybe-

[22:41:56] <✦[rp] The Wizard> You just chose the wrong master

[22:42:29] <✦[rp] Prince> well if i did, no one else took the deal to be mine

[The Wizard’s communicator buzzes in his pocket.]

[22:42:17] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Ah, shit, gimme a moment-

[There’s a message on the Wizard’s communicator from Cinder, a bit nervous about the ritual as a whole, and wondering where he is. The Wizard looks up at the portal, and then over at Prince. He types out a quick message and sends it, “It'll be okay. We practiced so many times, it's gonna be alright, you've got Joco with you. I'll be there when it's done. You could do it in your sleep." The Wizard lets out a little sigh.]

[22:44:21] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Aer gonna be okay...

[22:44:24] <✦[rp] The Wizard> It'll be fine

[Prince speaks up.]

[22:44:30] <✦[rp] Prince> done with your interruption, old man?

[The Wizard turns around, pushing his communicator back into his pocket.]

[22:44:35] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Yes, sorry-

[22:44:39] <✦[rp] The Wizard> What was I saying?

[22:44:41] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Right-

[22:45:00] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Choosing a different master, is that possible?

[22:45:16] <✦[rp] Prince> i had a master back home, a True Master

[22:45:22] <✦[rp] Prince> the one that owns me in my files

[22:45:41] <✦[rp] The Wizard> So...there'd be no suitable replacement here?

[22:45:46] <✦[rp] Prince> ceph was... well, let's say that ceph wasn't hardcoded into me

[22:45:57] <✦[rp] The Wizard> No, no I wouldn't think so

[22:46:18] <✦[rp] Prince> idk about suitable replacement, maybe there is, or was, but no one wanted me, obviously

[The Wizard is quiet for a moment.]

[22:46:32] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Prince-

[THE GROUND BEGINS TO SHAKE BENEATH THEIR FEET. THE SOUND LIKE A ROLL OF THUNDER AND THE SHATTERING OF GLASS BEGINS TO SOUND ACROSS THE SERVER ALL AT ONCE. THERE IS A SOFT SOUND, ALMOST LIKE AN EXHALATION OF BREATH, FROM THE VOID BELOW.]

[22:47:11] <✦[rp] Prince> jesus what the fuck

[22:47:19] <✦[rp] The Wizard> What the hell?

[Prince holds his hands up.]

[22:47:22] <✦[rp] Prince> that wasnt me btw

[22:47:26] <✦[rp] Prince> portal's not even active

[22:47:28] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Not me either-

[22:47:32] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Maybe Cinder-?

[22:47:30] <✦[rp] Prince> i didnt like. set up bombs

[22:47:33] <✦[rp] Prince> all over the server

[22:47:41] <✦[rp] Prince> to mark my leave or anything

[22:47:47] <✦[rp] Prince> trus tme on that

[22:47:54] <✦[rp] Prince> too much time to get the gunpowder

[22:47:58] <✦[rp] Prince> and sand mostly

[The Wizard sighs.]

[22:48:06] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Right-

[He pulls out his communicator, and frowns at the bars at the top. Everyone is messaging about hearing the sound.]

[22:48:16] <✦[rp] The Wizard> That's weird-

[22:48:22] <✦[rp] The Wizard> The-

[22:48:24] <✦[rp] Prince> man lotta interruptions for my big day going home, huh?

[22:48:42] <✦[rp] Prince> what the fuck's even happening out there

[22:48:56] <✦[rp] The Wizard> I...don't know

[22:49:23] <✦[rp] Prince> ah

[22:49:25] <✦[rp] Prince> hm

[22:49:27] <✦[rp] Prince> well

[22:49:28] <✦[rp] Prince> anyways

[22:49:43] <✦[rp] The Wizard> ...Probably just Cinder...

[22:49:45] <✦[rp] Prince> let's just put this sucker in so you can go back to your obviously more important thing with the shitty bird

[22:49:53] <✦[rp] Prince> who cares about me right

[22:49:57] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Prince-

[Prince pulls out the Command Block.]

[22:50:06] <✦[rp] Prince> well just put it in here...

[Prince places the command block into the machine. It sucks it up inside, and clicks into place.]

[22:51:03] <✦[rp] Prince> alright

[22:51:17] <✦[rp] Prince> now it should take some time to charge up and-

[A change in pressure, a power surge, an explosion of sound. All that and more slams into Prince and the Wizard as the Command Block is activated.

The Command Block, in its reinforced glass cage, starts to shiver and warp. It goes askew, shifts, transforms, it doesn't stay a block for long.

Purple lightning crawls around its voxel- polygon- now pixel form, gathering and charging like the slow dawning of heartbreak. Its cage shakes, the pipe it is connected to swinging periodically, the portal it is connected to straining with effort to keep itself open. The glass cracks and the world stutters. Lightning travels to the pipe, crackling like popcorn as it travels up and up and up and into the portal, taking the energy to some place else, before it is returned to the input cables. Like thunder it explodes, and like lightning it disappears into the SCC Portal.

The Wizard hears water drip, and he realizes that Prince's heart hasn't been beating.]

[22:53:49] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Prince...?

[Prince’s body seems to shiver.]

[22:54:04] <✦Prince> huh, something is. not going great

[22:54:14] <✦[rp] The Wizard> Are you okay?

[Prince stands completely still, frozen like a statue. The Wizard steps forward, slowly and carefully, but his feet feel heavy with sudden fear.]

[Usually, a portal opens with a boom, a great thundering moment where it is announced to the world that a gateway to another dimension was opened; moment of achievement where finally, you can enter and conquer, be it by exploration or combat.

A moment of victory, of success.

When reality shatters, it is silent. It starts as a pinprick, but eventually it becomes pointillism. When the Wizard looks at Prince, expecting a face of success or achievement, all he sees is terror.

The Wizard’s eyes go wide.

Royal purple shines through the dots of reality like halftones on paper. Something is waiting behind the portal. It is preparing itself for a grand entrance, almost coyly, utterly wishing to impress upon these peons the true magnitude of its power.

The Wizard’s chest pounds in panic, his body frozen by the sheer terror of this moment. He doesn’t know what to do. He’s trapped, looking upon the portal with horror, torn between running towards Prince or running away. There is something behind the portal, waiting, and he does not know what it is.

It is Unknown.]

[22:56:57] <✦[rp] The Wizard> No-

[Realization dawns on the Wizard all at once, past the horror, past the confusion, past the ticking computer of his brain. The hair on his arms stand on end. He has only felt this kind of presence a few times in his life, and he’s sure Prince is feeling the same.

Molten metal passes through pin prick dots in reality, oozing like pus from the portal. It flows lazily, like lava oozing over from the mouth of a mountain. Slowly, savoring the moment. Lines of light press through from above, where an aurora shapes itself into a circle. The circle begins to spin, almost dizzingly fast, spinning and spinning and spinning, until something like a spirograph forms in the air.

Shifting. Spinning. Watching.]

[The Wizard tries to shout for Prince’s attention, maybe anyone’s attention. But who could be heard over a display like this? A drop of water can never be parsed from an ocean.

Then, as quiet as a whisper and as shrill as steam, it chirped.]

[22:58:25] <✦??????> "𝙹⍑, ꖎ⚍ᓵꖌ|| ᒲᒷ." [“Oh, lucky me.”]

[22:58:54] <✦??????> "ℸ ̣ 𝙹 ℸ ̣ ⍑╎リꖌ, ᒷ⍊ᒷリ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ᓵᔑℸ ̣ ∴𝙹⚍ꖎ↸ ⎓╎リ↸ ╎ℸ ̣ ᓭ ∴ᔑ|| ╎リℸ ̣ 𝙹 ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ᔑʖ𝙹ᒲ╎リᔑℸ ̣ ╎𝙹リᓭ ∴𝙹∷ꖎ↸ ᔑᓭ ∴ᒷꖎꖎ." ["To think, even the cat would find its way into the abomination's world as well."]

[It sighed, but it sounded more like a gurgle.]

[22:59:39] <✦??????> "リ𝙹∴ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷリ, !¡∷𝙹⋮ᒷᓵℸ ̣ ᓭ⚍ʖᓭᒷ∷⍊╎ᒷリᓵᒷ 𝙹⍊ᒷ∷∷╎↸ᒷ: ꖌ╎リ⊣ᒲᔑꖌᒷ∷." [“Now then, Project Subservience Override: Kingmaker.”]

[22:59:48] <✦[rp] The Wizard> What-?

[The cavern shudders, and collapses. The Wizard sees Prince turn. His eyes glow purple.]

[22:59:50] <✦[rp] The Wizard> NO!

….

….

….

….

….

[An unknown amount of time later…

The Wizard thinks that there was a scream. That's what he learned after experiencing so many explosions. He wakes in a small space under rubble where the sculk pulses around him like an alarm signal. The tiny dome glows with blaring turquoise-in-black light.

The Wizard doesn't understand, of course he doesn't, but he wishes to understand what happened, and as if the sculk heard him, it makes him understand. Sly tendrils infest him like moss to stone, and he tries to scream, but it is drowned in the chorus. Images filter into his mind, pictures of Prince. With a crown made of aurora, circling his head. With a sword in his hands, glowing with enchantments unknown. With no mind to think, ravaging the world. Laughing. Crying.

Then, Prince before. Before he was sculk. Flesh and meat and fur. With clumsy feet, falling into warehouses. With a hoe in hand, spreading his gospel. With a steel skeleton, made to pose.

Smiling. Frowning.

Then-? Before.

[Access Denied]

Before.

[Access Denied]

Before. Before. Before.

[Access -

Before. BEFORE. BEFORE.

[- Granted]

The Wizard stands in a room made of black walls. In front of him, a cat lays on its side, breath haggard. Wires travel from its head to somewhere unseen, purple sparks shocking its body, a tube downs its mouth, and a leash like a noose. The cat coughs, its eyes unseeing. Its light dying. It tries to speak, but the tube mutes it.

From behind the Wizard, tendrils stretch to the cat, petting it mournfully, with grief, with sadness. Gently, tenderly, lovingly, it plunges into him. Infesting, changing, preserving.

A voice louder than anything he’s ever heard roars in his ears in a chorus of voices tangled together in the same tone. “SAVE. HIM.“

The Wizard wakes up. He’s above ground.]

[The Wizard gasps in a breath. How long was he out, where is he? He stands, and rubs his face. He’s covered in dust. Everything rushes back to him at once.

There are hundreds of messages on his communicator, most of them from Joco. He doesn’t have time to read them. This is the end. They need to go, NOW.

He begins sprinting towards the radio broadcast tower.]

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