The Despair Among Us

This here is an AU/crossover between Danganronpa (specifically Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair), the Among Us TV show that recently dropped, and Project Hail Mary. It follows Class 77-B on a field trip to Enceladus and back aboard the Skeld, right until things start going wrong...

If you come from the Among Us fandom, do note that 1: the crewmates here are gendered (except Black) and human, unlike their canon counterparts , and 2: there's a bit more hard science involved in this little story, including my take on the Skeld.

The ask box is here. Feel free to ask our colorful cast of characters anything as long as it's not lewd or NSFW.

February 24, 2014

Seb: So… today’s the day. 

We will be headed to JFK very soon, so I’ll make this quick. It is currently 6:00 AM, and we are waiting outside the Main Building for our bus. Chiaki’s getting Hajime, and then once our ride’s here, we’re leaving. Once there, we’ll be given our spacesuits, board a Legion spaceplane, and head up into orbit at 10:00 AM. 

Since Grace has yet to show up himself, does everyone have everything gathered?

Ibuki: Yep yep yeppers! :D

Gundham: Indubitably. 

Kaz: Got it all!

Marco: I triple-checked everything in my bag.

Impostor: I have everything for me and Ryota.

Ryota: Uuugh… Why’d we have to get up so early?

Seb: I’m not a fan of this either, but Mr. Grace says it’s to avoid both traffic and the protests, since most of the Reserve Course is currently asleep.

Hiyoko: I should be asleep! >:(

Peko: Hiyoko, there are times where we need to do things we would rather avoid. 

Hiyoko: Well… maybe you should stop following the baby gangster around like a lapdog.

Fuyuhiko: Oi!

Nicholas: I EXPECT YOU GUYS TO NOT DO ANYTHING STUPID WHILE YOU’RE UP THERE. … PLEASE, DON’T KILL ME BEFORE MY COMA.

Adrianna: I hav'a feelin' that's directed at me… Sucks you can’t go. 

Nicholas: It’s probably for the best. If I went up on a rocket ship, I’d have a heart attack. IN ANY CASE, YOU ALL SHOULD BE BACK BY THE TIME I’M ALLOWED TO WALK AGAIN, RIGHT?

Seb: That should be the case. 

Nicholas: BWAH-HA-HA! GREAT! 

Mahiru: Please, Nicholas. Not so loud.

Nicholas: sorry.

Sonia: Mahiru! You… don’t look well. 

*One week after the last post*

Grace: Just to give a quick update, we will still be going on our little trip to Enceladus. I know the Reserve Course has essentially surrounded the campus due to you-know-what, but the schedule has not changed. Headmaster Kirigiri talked with a MIRA representative, and they said that Hope’s Peak can’t pull out of the contract even if they wanted to. 

Attached below is a mini-survey-of-sorts MIRA wants each of you to sign. It has to do with assigning a spacesuit to each of you kids for the trip. What size it should be, and what color. 

[INSERT SURVEY LINK HERE]

Chiaki: Can I forward this to Hajime?

Grace: Yes, please do that. 

Kaz: Is he still even going? I thought he’s out there with everyone else.

Chiaki: No, he’s… he seems torn up by the leak. But he’s not participating in the parade.

Fuyuhiko: Can’t we just call this what it really is? It’s a fucking riot.

Seb: Protest, Fuyuhiko, it’s a protest. Riots involve wanton violence, and the Reserve Course hasn’t committed any AFAIK. 

Grace: Yes, it is. It’s just… Eugenics? In the twenty-first century? I thought only some Republicans still believe in that…

Adrianna: ‘Scuse me, but what’s this Eugene thing?

Grace: … *sigh* Eugenics is a… uh, “science” from the late 19th century that involved deliberate breeding for “genetic purity.” And I say that in airquotes, because it was used to justify Jim Crow and other racial policies the world over without giving solid evidence. And it *might* have inspired the Nazis to do the Holocaust…

Seb: Okay, but wasn’t eugenics about race? Where does talent come into the picture?

Grace: Seeing what? I just got here. I’m just wondering what’s got my students all riled up?

Seb: Just… take a look. *hands the teacher his laptop*

Fuyuhiko: You know anything about this shit?

Grace: Looks like a research paper… hold on…

Impostor: Well? We're waiting on an answer.

Marco: …hahaha. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Gundham: How is this a laughing matter, Oracle? Such black sorcery is perilous to use!

Marco: Ahaha… no, I’m not disagreeing with that. It’s just… What the fuck is the school thinking, researching artificial talent? You can’t just give people talent. It comes naturally! Develops over years! 

Kaz: THAT’S YOUR PROBLEM!?!?!? What about, ya’ know, the human experimentation!?

Marco: They’re just doing this to members of the Reserve Course, right? They’re practically–

Grace: … *standing in the classroom doorway, giving the luckster a look.*

Chiaki: *giving Marco a more threatening look*

Adrianna: Hey! You’re reading so fast I can’t keep up!

Seb: I’m skimming, not reading. Doesn’t help that you’re all looking over my shoulders right now. 

Adrianna: Okay… then what are you getting, Einstein?

Seb: I’m seeing a lot of mentions of taking subjects out of the Reserve Course, surgery, alterations to the muscles and tendons, brain alterations, talent implementation, erasure of the subject’s memory and personality… the usual.

…

Nicholas: WHAAAAAAATTTTT!?!?!?!?!?!?

Kaz: whatthefuckwhatthefuckwhatthefuck–?

Hiyoko: Is this some sort of prank? ‘Cause it’s not funny!

Chiaki: No… the school’s insignia is all over this file. 

Fuyuhiko: So you’re saying this shit’s real!? 

Mikan: uwah… I-isn’t this illegal? W-why would the school…?

Seb: Looking it up now… Huh.

Adrianna: What? 

Seb: There’s a bunch of comments below the file link. The most popular is “This is what our tuition is going towards? Someone get the pitchforks.”

Fuyuhiko: You wanna bet this is what’s got the Reserve Course actin’ funny? 

Mahiru: Please, don’t. 

Fuyuhiko: I didn’t mean that literally and you know it!

Ibuki: Well, what’s in it? It can’t be THAT bad, right?

Chiaki: …

Ibuki: …right?

…

Marco: …how the fuck did you reach that conclusion? Soshun and everyone is fine and dandy. 

Seb: So is Karen. I saw her this morning on my way to the classroom.

Hiyoko: And Abby was with me this morning in our dorm. What the fuck is wrong with you?

Ryota: Huh!? Who said that!? A-and what did they call me?

Ryota: Um, guys? The Reserve Course seems a little… off lately. Like they’re mad about something but won’t say it. 

Hiyoko: Oh look, the shut-in’s finally showing his stinky face on here. A WEEK LATE!!!

Kaz: Yeah, I’ve noticed it too. I dunno why, but I think they’re giving us the silent treatment.

Gundham: But why are thy masses perturbed?

Marco: Aren’t they always like that? It’s natural for the talentless to envy the world’s hopes. 

Ryota: Yeah, but–uh–th-this is different. Like… like there’s something different in their eyes…

Chiaki: Guys! Something just dropped on the school forum–!!! …oh. Hi Mitarai-san.

Hiyoko: Pixie girl here was just proposing her boyfriend take the gorilla’s seat. 

Grace: Oh, you mean Hajime? 

Kaz: You know this guy?

Grace: Well, Chiaki brings him into the classroom every other week to play games with her, or if it’s raining or snowing outside… which has been almost every day for the past month, given the weather.

Chiaki: I wanted to take him to my room, but Reserve Course students aren’t allowed in the dormitory wing.

Marco: Why am I not surprised…

Grace: Marco, you know they’re allowed into Main Course classrooms if they have permission… besides, Mr. Hinata’s got… a few self-esteem issues, but he’s a good kid… like I know you are. I wouldn’t mind if he came with us. ... I-I’m assuming you all agreed to let him–

Ibuki: YEP!!!

Kaz: Eh, fuck it, why not. It’s not like our other options have a month of spare time.

Fuyuhiko: Tch, whatever. Not like I give a shit. 

Seb: uh… guess we’re going with him, then. Assuming the Headmaster allows it.

Grace: Kirigiri said that sixteen students had to go on the trip. Something about contractual obligations…

…

Grace: That means yes, we’re bringing someone from outside our class. Even if they’re in the Reserves.

Marco: I know who you’re talking about, but I really don’t know if that’s a great idea.

Chiaki: Marco, I know you don’t like Hajime-san, but–

Marco: He’s in the Reserve Course!

Chiaki: Grace-sensei was from there too. You seem fine with him as our teacher.

Marco: He’s… different. More importantly, Hajime’s said himself he’d searched for a talent his whole life and came up dry. That alone should preclude him from–

Chiaki: It doesn’t. Marco, why can’t Hajime-san just come along as a friend?

Mahiru: I’m sorry, but who are you two talking about?

Marco: Chiaki’s boyfriend from the Reserve Course.

Kaz: You have a WHAT!?!?

Chiaki: He’s not— I– 

Ibuki: Ooh! We could bring Shoji-kun!

Kaz: Ain’t he in the Student Council, though? I know he’s a chill guy despite being the Ultimate Drummer, and he’s your boyfriend… I think… but…

Peko: So he can’t come for the same reason as Enoshima-san. Suppose that goes for Yukio-san, too.

Ibuki: Awwww…

Gundham: I could inquire the beast tamer into joining us on our quest.

Fuyuhiko: Ya mean the Australian who acts like a dog? Really? Her?

Sonia: I wouldn’t mind if Katie went with us.

Seb: Yeah, I’d rather not deal with her.

Gundham: You have a problem with canine beasts, Explorer of Unknown Lands?

Seb: I have a problem with pets in general. I know that’s basically your talent, but not everyone shares your interests. 

Gundham: Hmph.

Chiaki: …actually… There is someone I have in mind.

Nicholas: I’D ACTUALLY BE FINE WITH THAT. WOULDN’T WANNA WASTE A GOOD SEAT. GO AHEAD, GET SOMEONE ELSE.

Kaz: You mean from outside our class? Is that allowed?

Grace: Hm… That depends on if the teacher of whoever goes allows it. Let me check with the headmaster…

Seb: So… does anyone have any ideas?

Mikan: I could ask–

13 people at once: No.

Mikan: Eh?

Mahiru: Sorry Mikan, but Junko’s… how to put this…?

Fuyuhiko: Creepy as Hell? 

Impostor: Has no sense of privacy?

Kaz: Even more erratic than Ibuki? No offense. 

Marco: Seems to get off on despair? 

Mahiru: THAT’S NOT WHAT I WAS GETTING AT!!! Junko’s a fashionista, right? I don’t think she has a whole month off in her schedule to go with us. 

Mikan: *distressed_Mikan_noises.MP3*

Chiaki: Open seat? 

Impostor: Hope’s Peak won’t let us speak about what happened, but the… incident that resulted in Chiaki joining our class, and the investigation the school did into it, finally got that woman fired. Good riddance. 

Marco: I’m amazed that they saw her as a beacon of home when all she caused wherever she went was despair. Then again, they only accept alumni as teachers here…

Mahiru: Which brings us to Mr. Grace. Or rather, Dr. Grace. If I recall, he graduated from the Reserve Course just as the recession started, and went into academia for a while. He hasn’t told us why he left, but I’m not going to inquire about it since it seems… personal. Lucky for him, guess who was looking for an alumni with the credentials of a teacher?

Grace: I only got into teaching as a backup plan in case astrobiology didn’t work out… and I’m kinda glad I did. 

Ibuki: And we’re all the happier for it! 

Hiyoko: AHEM.