#electrode character

The group falls on top of a table covered in papers. It must be late out, because the windows outside are darkened and there's nobody in the room. Nobody, that is, except for a lanky kid with an eyepatch.

They stare at each other, in the dark, endlessly. Taking in everything they can. The kid is wearing a large coat and looks almost exhausted, in the way teenagers do. Then, suddenly, he disappears. Like he wasn't there in the first place.

Virtue is the first to speak. "Who the fuck was that?"

Bug is the second. "I have no clue."

The third is the sound of footsteps clanging on metal, a door opening, and light coming into the dark room.

The kid appears out of the doorway. Then, a person with bright green hair and neon yellow eyes. And then . . .

And then it's Virtue. But it's not Virtue, because Virtue doesn't look like the weight of the world is on their shoulders, and their hair is shorter.

"Look!" The kid gestures to the group, his voice cracking slightly. "Why would I lie about them?"

Not-Virtue is looking at the group, and then to the neon green haired person, and over again. "Electrode." They say, and that definitely sounds like Virtue's voice, but it can't be. "I don't remember this."

Green hair, Electrode, stares right at Cato with nothing but anguish and fear. "Yeah." Comes Cato's voice, right out of Electrode's mouth. "I don't either."

-

Cato learns that the kid's name is Nightmare, which . . . the other one's name was Electrode so that must be a thing. They learn that they're in a warehouse owned by Electrode, who must be some higher up who just happens to sound like Cato.

Currently the band is in what is called the 'caffeine room'. It's a room with over 15 coffee dispensers, and everyone has a mug in their hands.

"So." Nightmare sits on the table in front of everyone else. "How did you get here?"

"We were playing a game." Virtue says. "I was winning-" Gemini sticks out her tongue and Virtue returns the favor. "I was winning when Gem hit me with a spell. Something tugged at our chests, there was blue light and then we were here. I guess."

There's some strange look on Nightmare's face, almost wistful, in a detached way. That's when Cato realizes something.

"Wait, when I say Bardic Inspiration, what do you think of?"

Nightmare's face closes off almost instantaneously, the small gleam in his eyes gone and his face blank. "I don't know if I am allowed to say."

"Why?"

Nightmare turns slowly to Cato, eyes flicking up and down. The memory of their voice coming out of Electrode's mouth still weighs on them.

"I don't know if I'm allowed to say."

There's footsteps, and Nightmare looks at the entrance with a flicker of confusion. Not-Virtue appears from around the corner.

"Are they okay?" Nightmare asks.

"They're in the lab." Not-Virtue responds.

There's a moment of silence that fills the room as Not-Virtue and Nightmare watch each other. The lights flicker, and Nightmare disappears. The band turns and looks at Not-Virtue, who in turn looks at them.

They close their eyes, take a deep breath in, and slowly let it out. Their eyes open, and they stare directly at Bug. "Look. I am going to be as transparent about this as I can be without getting into Electrode's space."

"What's up with Electrode?" Gemini asks, putting her face into her hands. "Wait not like that. I meant, who the fuck lives in a warehouse this big in fucking New York, with at least three people?"

Not-Virtue's eyes move towards Gemini, staring at her with a near violent intensity. "You aren't prepared for that answer." They look back at Bug. "As I was saying, you all are from the past, as well as a different timeline than this one. Not too different until about an hour ago, but still different."

"How do you know that?" Bug stands up and crosses its arms. "What do you know that makes you so skittish around us?"

Virtue stands a little taller, and their shoulders roll back ever so slightly. "You know, having one of the people who works for you appear inside of your room yelling about people coming back from the dead in a flash of light is worrisome. Especially since their death fundamentally changed the course of history."

Cato's going to be sick.

"At least, three people back from the dead." They look at Virtue. "I never introduced myself. Hi, I'm Virtue, ex-manager of popular cover band Bardic Inspiration."

Cato misses how Virtue's eyes go over everyone but them.

"It's so nice to see you all again."

-

Electrode isn't panicking. No, they're not. They're not thinking about rotting corpses and mutilated bodies and blood and organs and screaming and-

No. Not thinking about it. They're not thinking about it.

Someone is behind them.

They spin around and see Nightmare at the entrance, watching, as he usually does.

"I know that this is hard for you." He starts, and oh what a way to start. "But, hear me out, there's a baby you in there. Who has no clue that you invented anti-gravity boots."

Okay yeah they're actually not thinking about it anymore. They have boots to put on.

-

Virtue . . . should stop hanging around Electrode so much. Or maybe more because seeing everyone devolve at that bombshell was actually funny. Or, well, it was until Electrode came flying in on their boots.

"WHAT THE FUCK?!" Airael yells as Electrode's boots power off. "I'm done! I'm done. There's only so much I can fucking take. Can I go to bed? I'd like to go to bed."

"There's a couch in the hallway to the lef- and he's gone okay." Electrode watches as Airael stands up and leaves, not that anyone blames him he deals with all of their shit. Then, they look at Cato. "Y'know, I was planning on having several mental breakdowns just now, seeing as how I was the one to see your corpses, but then Nightmare reminded me of something."

Bug moves to stand in front of Virtue and Cato. "What is it?"

"Oh, nothing too important. Just that if you guys never came here, Cato there would invent anti-gravity technology."

Cato furrows their brow. "Wait, what?"

"You invent anti-gravity?"

"That's . . . that's a thing here?"

"Only for me, yeah." Electrode grins. "Plus a lot of other things. I've Rickrolled national television at least four different times."

Oh fuck. Cato thinks. They're me.

"Hey, what's with the look?" Electrode frowns, moving past Bug and standing next to Cato. "Sure, I'm horrifically traumatized and violent with a history of robbing banks, and am in charge of every villain known to man. But consider-"

"Consider what?" Gemini snarls, standing up and trembling with anger. "Get away from Cato or I'll make you."

Electrode ignores her, Virtue blends into the shadows and disappears from view. "Consider this: I've spent the last eightish years being able to invent whatever the fuck I wanted. Using the money of rich people. Also I know the future. Mostly."

Gemini starts to move to get Cato away, and Electrode's head snaps to look at her. "They don't know but I do so tell him now or go to bed with your girlfriend."

Gemini looks at Cato, mouths an 'I'm sorry', and leaves.

Bug turns around suddenly, pointing a finger at Electrode. "What just happened?"

Electrode sighs. "One moment." They look at Cato. "Y'know, you could use your Power for something other than controlling peoples bodies and nerves. Like inventing, or being a human battery, or something I dunno. And that law degree. Start changing the world."

Electrode turns to Bug. "So, turns out V is the only Unpowered one in BI. But also is the most important person in this timeline on my side so honestly who's the most powerful one?"

"Still you." Virtue (second Virtue?) appears behind Bug, who yelps and moves to leave their vicinity. "And your very intelligent plans."

"Only put together by you."

"Not really."

"Let me compliment you!"

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