#walker.txt

Darnold’s voice rings clearly from nearby, and Tommy smiles in his direction. They beckon with a wave.

Tommy: “D-Darnold, can you g-get everyone to come over? I-I think we s-should thank the spirits o-one last time before w-we turn the camera off.”

Their boyfriend’s reply is muffled, but soon the Players join Tommy and Gin in front of the camera. They turn to you, O wandering spirits. Smiling, waving. Faces that you’ve come to know, saying a goodbye to the voices that guided them to this new life. And their farewell rings out as a chorus:

“Thank you!”

The demon wearing a father’s face cackles as she snaps her fan open. It only takes a flick of her wrist to send out a gust of wind that sends the heroes sprawling. Walker very nearly cuts himself on his own sword in the tumble.

“Rushing me all at once? Come now, you’ll have to do better than that.” Giggles Oni-Sama

Mac springs up first, with a speed that belies his age.

Mac: “Alright, if we’re playing dirty, let’s get DIRTY.”

Green ones and zeros flash into existence as he removes his knuckledusters for the time being.

Mac: “Keep her off my back if you would, team. I’ve got to finagle some code!”

Pyre gets to his feet, shaking himself like a dog.

Pyre: “Oh, I’ve got a distraction for her!”

Lunging forward before the demon can launch another attack, the older man snatches up one of the nearer ropes. It ignites as if dipped in kerosene, fire zipping up its length like a fast-motion fuse. Oni-Sama screeches in pain, yanking the leg attached to that rope free of its coil.

Sunny notices something as the demon spasms with rage.

Sunny: “H-her leg is l-limp now! M-maybe if we disconnect a-all the ropes, she won’t be able to m-move!”

Benrey solemnly leads Gordon up the stairs, onto the top tier. They insisted on it being just the two of them, not wanting to cut the others’ fun short. Fireworks intermittently dot the starless sky behind them as Benrey takes a few silent paces away.

Benrey: “...okay.”

Benrey: “you ready, gordon?”

Gordon: “For...what? You haven’t really explained what we’re doing exactly.”

The demon hesitates, then shrugs sadly.

Benrey: “we’re doing what we gotta so you can get your son back.”

Benrey: “I gotta go boss fight mode.”

Gordon: “Wha-? Benrey, I’m not gonna fight you-”

He starts to take a step towards them, but a wave of sudden energy pushes him back.

Benrey...changes. Eyes open and shift colors. Fangs and horns sprout where there were none. Their ears and fingernails grow pointed. A sword manifests in their hand.

One by one, then with increasing speed, the masks dissolve into pale orange light. Firefly-like they drift up and through the ceiling. Where they touch, the building itself starts to flake off, becoming pixels, then data, then nothing at all.

Gordon’s armor dissipates as well, and he stumbles as his body becomes fully his again. Thankfully Mac is there to steady him, looping a solid arm around the hero’s shoulders.

Mac: “Are you alright, my boy?”

Gordon: “Yeah, I think so...just uh...lil’ overwhelmed.”

Sunny: “Thank g-goodness, you s-scared us...”

Gordon: “Sorry, Sunny...”

Tag, Solute, and Benrey burst through the dissolving doorway, looking panicked.

Benrey: “where’s-”

Benrey: “...walker?”

Tag: “What the hell man, are you ok? I mean, you look ok...”

Solute: “Tag said you were dying!”

Pyre: “Well he was, but then he went all avenging angel on her ass, and now he’s fine.”

Pyre: “...you are fine, right?”