#ds ch4

"Right, and now we wait. Shouldn't be too long..." Decker trails off mysteriously, but then... minutes later, there's another flicker of the lights, and another metal plate slides open in the wall on the opposite side of the room, the one you've been using to enter and exit the Wheel Room for the entire game.

And through this new opening... comes a familiar tap sound that heralds the arrival of Doctor Sorrel Weissen.

He comes through the door, and he's not alone.

"We did it! We found them!" Kazuya Kurita, uncollared and looking a lot more like their old self, enters a little ahead of Sorrel, although when they see the state of the rest of you their excitement turns to concern pretty quickly.To the left of the doctor are two new figures, strangers, although the shorter one with a long fluffy sidecut bears some resemblance to Yuu in the shape of their face and features. The other figure isn't much taller than Kazuya, but is wearing heels that lend them a few more inches.

“Hm, it seems we’ve arrived a little late. Is this everyone, Roselle?” The stranger looks towards Sorrel, who shakes his head.

“No… and it looks like... Diamond is already g-gone.” Sorrel frowns, his gaze darting around the room and resting on Yuu for a moment, before moving to Decker.

“Where are the o-others?”

For his part, Decker is no longer solely focused on his tablet. It’s almost strange seeing him so still, but he doesn’t appear alarmed or upset - his neutral expression is back in place.

“Hi to you, too. You brought Nightshade, really?” Decker makes a vague gesture at the bespectacled stranger, who wrinkles their nose in distaste.

“I prefer Hana. I’m not one of your operatives.” They speak up again, their tone absolutely frigid. “Answer the question.”

“They’re gone. Fukou and Tatsumi joined WC, they left with Diamond, Shatter, and Firefly.” Decker says flatly, “Look, Unicorn… Sorrel, if you’re going to go, then go. Now. You shouldn’t have left the message that you were coming back, you know I had to report it, and an extraction team is already on the way.”

“We’re not alone…” Sorrel says, his voice only a little louder than its usual quiet level. “Kiki and Chieko... are waiting... outside the Dome.”

“Yeah, I figured. Asa’s good, but you had to have multiple people to launch an attack like that on me. Really kept me on my toes there.” Decker shakes his head.

“Yeah yeah, whatever helps ya sleep at night, Dicker. Point is - we won, ya lost, yadda yadda. Get over it.”

Asa blows a raspberry at Decker, before immediately rushing to Yuu’s side and helping them up from where they had fallen to the floor.

Decker huffs, and then abruptly taps on his tablet again - and the lights all shut off for a few paralyzing seconds. Not a flicker but full darkness. When they go back up, Decker is still there, and his androids are all pointing arms with hands that have shifted into what look like gun barrels.

“You-” Hana starts to say, but Sorrel raises a hand.

“He’s n-not going to k-kill us. He’s g-going to let us go. Aren’t you, Evren?”

“...” Decker just looks at Sorrel, stone-faced.

“You know… this is w-wrong. All of it. You’re unquestioningly l-loyal, I know… I know why. Wh-what happened to you and your s-sister was… there aren’t words. And W-WonderCorp saved you. They h-helped both of you. How is Marisol…?”

“She’s fine.” Decker says, the words clipped, his shoulders tense. “...Asks about you, sometimes.”

“She’s sweet… tell her I s-said hello?”

“Yeah. I can do that. Seriously though, get everyone together and go. You don’t know what Sin Eater gets like with traitors, they might pull Grim out of retirement.”

Sorrel flinches, his face going pale.

“We h-have to go.”

“That’s what I’ve been saying. I can take care of things here, I’ll wipe the surveillance, blame it on your little hacker team. I can stall for fifteen, maybe twenty minutes, but you need to get them out of here, get your shit together, and go.”

“You… you c-could come with us… Evren, you d-don’t have to-”

“No.” Decker shakes his head, “Something’s wrong. It was never supposed to be like this, I know you won’t believe me but this isn’t what WC is about, something is fucked up and I’m going to find out what. Besides, I… I really fucked up here. I made a mistake. I made a lot of mistakes but I made one really fucking big…” Decker’s eyes flick to Romeo’s empty podium, and he sighs. “Nevermind. Just go.”

There’s a pause, Sorrel looks torn.

“Just fucking do it, you already ditched me once. And we aren’t friends anyway, right? That’s what you said.”

“God, you’re s-such an asshole.”

“Takes one to know one.”

There’s a brief, fleeting second where Sorrel and Decker smile at each other. Then the plate in the wall behind Decker slides open, and he and his androids disappear through it.

“Right, is that… done, then?” Hana adjusts their glasses anxiously, and Sorrel nods. “Okay. We really should get going. Ah, I’m sure you all have questions, we can talk on the move… does anyone need assistance?”

-

Arlechenno was shocked by the results. Despite all of the vitriol and the death wishes, they’d still rather he spin? There was a chance he could die. But there was also a chance he could live.

He wrapped his arms around Benoit, embracing him tightly and whispering in his ear. "I love you, my sparrow. Tout ira bien et tout ira bien et toutes sortes de choses iront bien…"

No sooner had the words left Arlechenno’s mouth than Benoit was whispering a response, clinging back just as tightly and trying to will himself not to shake. “Je t’aime aussi, mon corbeau. Je t’aime…”

They held each other for as long as Arlechenno felt like they could, trying to stretch an eternity into a few seconds of contact.

But as much as he wanted to hide, he could not.

It was showtime.

"If we did not finish it, then what was the point of it all?" He quipped to Decker as he pulled away, putting on a brave face. "I would rather not waste any of the sacrifices made here."

Arlechenno stepped up to the wheel and gave it a strong tug. It was up to fate now.

For the last time the wheel turns and the lights blink, the clickclickclick bearing an increased tension, but also a strange relief. It’s almost over. This should be the last time… and it coasts to a stop at last, the stopper catching on a peg over a wedge that lights up Magenta. With an eye symbol.

Perhaps there’s some poetic justice in that? Or just irony. Either way, the androids around Decker roll forward to seize the Mastermind.

Benoit moves too, despite the terror in his throat, trying to get as close as he can without interfering. He doesn’t want to see this, he doesn’t want to watch this again, but he has to be there. Anxiously he bites his lip and clasps his hands in front of his chest, just… waiting.

An eye? The thief cannot help but force out a laugh. "How fitting…" He mumbles.

Archie goes without a fight, already offering out his arms and tilting his head back. He doesn't even bother to remove the mask.

[CW: Eye Trauma]

The androids grab him just as they did before, immobilizing his face and arms. This time, he does not struggle as the long blade slips free from the robot's arm, nor as it approaches his face.

He does, however, scream as it plunges down into the socket. Blood pours forth, bubbling over the edges of his mask and streaming down his cheek and neck. Mercifully, the process is as swift as ever. The eye pops free soon afterwards and the Android holds it aloft like a trophy. Even through the crimson blood, its iris is clearly teal, the same color as his usual diamond patterned shirt.

[END CW]

The moment he is released, Benoit is there, reaching for him much in the way that Sorrel had always been before. He’s much shorter than Arlechenno, but he wraps his arms around him to support him and keep him on his feet.

And then, things start to happen very quickly…

--

"Fucking finally!" Decker says with an odd mix of frustration and satisfaction. The lights in the room flicker, the wheel shuts off, going dark and still, even the screens on your podiums are blank. It's as though there was a power surge. But Decker's arm tablet is clearly still working because he's still typing away on it. Seconds later, the metal plate in the wall behind him slides open, and a new figure steps out…

"Hey, mijito! Help your brother and Shatter, get them outta here. The way should be clear for now. I've got some wrap-up to do but I'll be along soon, I've got this."

"Sorry m'late Babbino! Wanted ta pull a Die Hard ta get here faster but the vents're too small e'en fer me." Firefly calls out, his voice familiar to a select few of you from over your IDs.

The tiny figure darts across the room, his brightly colored tights matching the shirt pattern Archie usually wears. His teal eyes are focused solely on the injured man. The familial resemblance between the two are clear, even if Firefly is a solid foot and a half shorter than his brother. "Yer alive, thank fuckin' god. C'mon we gotta go, Arle!" He says, ducking under his brother's shoulder to try and help support him. He tries to wave at a pair of you. "Bye Haia-chan! Bye Yuu-chan! Thanks fer keepin' an eye on m'pain in the ass older bro!"

The sight of Firefly brings a momentary wash of relief to Benoit’s face. There’s a question in his eyes amongst the worry and barely-hidden panic, but he doesn’t voice it. As soon as Firefly is there to help him support Arlechenno, Benoit looks out at the group still standing around the podiums. His breath hitches again, his eyes flitting to each of them, and he swallows. Even if they meant for them to live with the guilt, each breath Arlechenno was taking right now was a mercy that Benoit wouldn’t take for granted. “Thank you.”

That would have to suffice as his goodbye.

True to his word, Decker hadn’t spoken up or intervened in the trial at all, even on the few occasions when someone had looked towards him or tried to address him. In fact for the past hour or so of it he hadn’t even been looking up periodically as he had in the first half. All of his attention is apparently focused on the tablet on his wrist, which he types away furiously on. It’s difficult to tell but he seems to be muttering under his breath - the words too quiet to be audible, especially with all the loud discussion and shouting going on in the rest of the room.

Even when Archie does his final reveal, Decker doesn’t look up, just continues to type and frown intensely. Only when the enraged shouting against him begins does Decker finally tear his eyes from the screen on his arm - to glare at Maxim, of all people.

“Fuck you, Firefly’s not gonna die, there’s nothing inevitable about it.” Decker snaps, “We cured him, and I’m not gonna let anything happen to that little gremlin. He’s mine now, mi hijito, I’ll take care of him.” His eyes cut to Archie, “So don’t worry about it anymore, Diamond. Jesus, is that really why you did all this? Something is seriously fucked up here… and all this shouting is making my headache worse. Whatever, your time’s up, let’s get this over with so I can deal with some fucking bullshit.”

He looks down at his tablet again, and there’s some more under-his-breath words, most likely swearing in Spanish as he taps away. The screens on your podiums all light up again, the dropdown menus vanishing as they flicker, and then display the final results:

1 Vote for Dai Fukou and Spin 1 Vote for Benoit Lowell and Spin 1 Vote for Honey McCormick and [Default]

And the majority is:

8 Votes for Arlechenno di Mercurio and Spin.

--

“Right, so. There you go. Congratulations you got it right, yay, good job, gold star.” Decker’s eyes don’t rise from the screen again. “And no you can’t use a passcard, I already told you all those are no good anymore. But don’t worry Diamond, you’re probably gonna live, congrats. Better make your spin fast though, we’re gonna have to book it here pretty soon.” He makes a little gesture towards the Wheel, which lights up anew, the bright blinking lights ominous even now.

Cleaned of any traces of blood, and with even the bullet hole from the last trial gone now, it’s a little surreal to enter the Wheel Room, like an unpleasant deja vu. It looks exactly as it did the first time you saw it, but there are… considerably fewer of you now to fill the podiums. Five dead. Three missing.

Decker doesn’t take up any of the empty ones, instead moving to the spot at the back of the room that had previously been Sorrel’s spot. He leans against the wall, typing away on his tablet as he speaks.

“This shouldn’t be that different from the whole murder trial, so I don’t think you guys really need me holding your hands through it. Talk among yourselves, present whatever “evidence” you think you have, and make a decision. You can vote the same way you did last time, through the dropdown menu on your podium touchscreens.”

Sure enough if you select the dropdown, there’s a list of names. It’s the full twenty person class this time, for some reason, instead of just the twelve of you actually here now. The sight of some of those names no doubt causes a painful twist or two in your stomachs.

“You can change your votes up until the end of the trial, I’ll give you… eh, three hours sounds reasonable, doesn’t it? That’s plenty of time. I’m sure you’re all eager to get this over with anyway. And don’t bother asking me anything, I’m not here to provide testimony. Only talk to me if you’ve decided you’d like to join WonderCorp, otherwise I’m just here to announce results.”

Decker waves his hand in what is clearly a go ahead, get on with it gesture, and then appears to lose all interest in favor of focusing on his wrist tablet.

It looks like whatever happens next is up to all of you.

The third day arrives, seemingly much more quickly than it should - but then you are used to five. While most of you did spend the time constructively and quickly searching the Dome, and found plenty to be concerned about, you can’t help wondering if the shorter timespan was meant to work against you. But whatever the reason, all you can do is use the time you’re given… up until it ends late in the afternoon, or arguably early in the evening on the third day when your ElectroIDs begin to beep and buzz for your attention.

“Time’s up.” Decker’s voice speaks from the IDs when you tap the screen to stop the alarms. “Come to the hall between 2E and 2F.”

That’s it, so if you want more information you’ll have to show up. Anyone who isn’t feeling up to walking or wheeling themself will be brought along in wheelchairs pushed by androids. Soon enough you’re all assembled in the usual place - or… almost all of you. Someone is distinctly missing, you can’t see any outrageous pompadours and you realize that Dai isn’t standing among you. But Decker, surrounded by his android escort, looks around the group and nods.

“Right, so. First up, your decision… the vast majority of you have decided you want to go for the Trial route. Good for you, taking a risk, we’ll see how that goes. But before we get started there, I have… an offer, for all of you.” Decker glances towards the metal plate behind him, then back at all of you, not much expectation in his expression.

“Some of you found some files, and have a better idea of what’s going on. Specifically, you’ve read a bit about the Wonder Corporation. It’s not actually a corporation, exactly, more of… an organization. We do make things - inventions, new technology, new medicine, treatments and cures... but it’s not for profit, it’s for progress, and that’s not all we do. There’s not really time for the whole explanation right now, and I’m sure you’re all impatient and disinclined to listen, so I’ll get to the point. You’re being extended invitations to join, all of you. That would mean you don’t have to spin or go through the trial. You could leave right now, get all the answers you could ever want, and more besides. I understand if you have doubts, but this game thing isn’t something we normally do. You don’t have to decide right now either, you can make up your mind later, I’m just letting you know it’s an option. Dai Fukou already decided to take us up on it, so don’t worry about him. He won’t be coming to the trial, but he’s fine.”

There’s a pause, a brief one, characteristic of Decker’s speeches, to give you all a moment to absorb.

“Don’t say no right away. And don’t let someone else’s choice influence yours. Think it over.” For some reason, Decker looks right at Emilia as he continues, “There’s a lot you could gain from this. We can help you, if you let us.”

After this strange proclamation, he turns, tapping the screen on his wrist tablet. The metal plate on the wall behind him still bears the spray-painted message in glaring red.

WE WILL COME BACK FOR YOU

Haia is still next to the infirmary, so when everything starts going off, Haia twitches, anxiously as she starts to her feet. She lurches to her feet and opens her ElectroID. Ah... there's that voice. The one that doesn't match... the one that she heard yesterday. Maybe? Was it yesterday? Haia shakes her head and stumbles over to the area, which, thankfully, is just feet away. She eyes Decker with the wariness of a thousand small prey animals confronted by a much larger predator, and it shows in the baring of her teeth as she hisses between them in a manner that is just, you know, pretty much angry.

She watches him announce that the Kuritas and Sorrel abandoned them - although, Haia is pretty sure Kiki wouldn't do that... and considering what Kazuya's gone through, she's pretty sure Mascot 2 of 3 (Haia Realizes), probably wouldn't either. Then, spin or mastermind... another trial... three days. There's been some clues and stuff already, she's pretty sure, remembering something Katahiko had told her... no. She needs to know. Who. How, why. Not when or where: those are simple. A-- another thing, what, why is there a gun who let the asshole have a gun, they should know better after Teddi's trial room shenanigans. "Oh no--"

Yuu drops. Romeo moves. As much of a peacock Haia finds him, well -- there's something that she appreciates about one being willing to dive in to protect someone like that. She gets that feeling - the Katahiko Protection Squad exists for a reason, after all. He doesn't survive, though, and Yuu is left to mourn as Haia turns to face Decker again, anger a soft blaze in the back of her blue eyes.

Decker exits stage right, and Haia snarls a single word - "Asshole."

Emilia, while not being injured, was definitely not at her best after the last suffering game. It felt like just about everyone was taken away after the events. Anyone she felt as if she could talk to, at least. Oh well, she'd just have to make the most of it like always. Wait a couple days for everyone to be better, then go back to exploring. Granted, there was more going on than just that, but she was gonna stay positive still

Well, until the alarms went off. It was already such a hassle to get in her chair and dressed all by herself, let alone with a time crunch. Today, she said screw it and stayed in her pajamas as she rolled down to where they were supposed to meet up, more curious than scared at the moment. Maybe someone caused a fire, and they just had to get out while it was being dealt with or something

If only it were that easy. Instead, she was greeted to a punch in the gut by some random dude she's never heard of. Sorrel and the twins...gone? They, they left everyone? That couldn't be right; if they knew a way to get out, then they would've gotten everyone out right away

And Kiki. That one probably hurt the most to Emilia, left her feeling especially lonely. Sorrel and Kazu she barely knew, but Kiki...Kiki was... Whenever anything bad happened, all she had to do was go to Kiki, find some stupid activity, then feel better. They were friends; Emilia had every intention to track down exactly where in Germany the twins lived once this was all over, just so they could have one day to hang out in a normal situation. There wasn't gonna be anymore of that though it seemed. If Sorrel was gonna get punished, there was no doubt she was in trouble too. Between her, all the injured people, and Honey, who was avoiding her now, she felt...lonely. She wasn't used to that feeling, which is probably why it stung more for the explorer. The worst of their days now, and it seemed like she had no one.

Her train of thought was cut off only by the loud bang that erupted through the room. Coming out of her daze suddenly, she looked frantically around the room until she spotted the scene that was Romeo dying in Yuu's arms

It looked like she wasn't the only one alone

She didn't know Romeo that well, but the fact that the person in charge felt like they had the right to do this left her furious. She wasn't letting this dude stay in power, she wasn't gonna let him get away with treating them like that. Her first instinct was to grab her tablet and slam the execution option

Except there wasn't one. Of course it wasn't gonna be fair; why was she so stupid? Actions by that made her realize that there was no way she'd be able to solve this on her own, but that's exactly what had to happen

It was never gonna happen though. She thought she'd never admit it to herself, but she needed other people. She couldn't comprehend things, entertain herself, or even complete some mundane tasks without at least someone at her side. But this time, she was left with a bunch of injured friends, a best friend that apparently abandoned her, and a boyfriend that seemed to hate her guts..