An old friend.....? (part of my liminal series!)

With the sun back, it was finally able to walk again.
It held onto Seven's intact hand the whole way, in case it still needed the comfort.
Parasite or not, it still had emotions as far as Ink could tell. And even if not, it was better to comfort someone undeserving than to deny someone who was.
When it came upon the building, that's who it looked to. "Is it okay if I look?"

007: *it nods, thinking this place could be a safe zone or something*
*the voice is still muffled...*

Ink nodded back and stepped inside.
...
It was not alone.
Well, obviously. Seven was right there.
But there was another voice. One that couldn't be Seven's because Seven doesn't speak. And it's much more distant.
Here we go again.
"Hello?"

Trav?: *Ink spots a familiar skeletal figure, this time wearing a pristine lab coat and talking to a strange machine.* if any anomalies in the lab is found, find and exterminate them, put them in the dark room.
007: *it stares at Trav, well it probably is, it's eyes can't really move so...*

"Trav!" It shouts, beaming and rushing over to him, releasing Seven's hand. "I didn't need to go back for you, you're here!"

Trav?: anomaly spotted! restrain them! *he points at Ink and multiple mechanical tendrils fly at Ink*
007: *it pushes Ink out of the way and is grabbed.*
Trav?: transport anomaly 007 to the dark room, they were scheduled for it anyway. *the tendrils begin to drag a flailing 007 away*

"Wh- anomaly?!" Its cut off as Seven pushes it away. It stumbles back to its feet. "Wait, stop! Trav!" It shrieked.

Trav?: Trav? you mean that loathesome coworker of mine? *he stares at ink. before calming down.* oh. you're human... what the hell were you doing with that.... THING?
*the tendrils and 007 are long gone.*

Human. Ha! Does it even count as human at this point? Did it ever? "That 'thing' is my friend, give it back!" It stomped.

???: that thing is a hostile anomaly that is scheduled to be terminated. whilst you are human, or at least pass as one for the system.

"It never hurt me! It's been nothing but good to me so give it back!" It screeched, sprinting in the direction the tendrils had dragged Seven.

???: system! close airlock 25-B! *a large door is slammed shut in front of Ink...*
*however ink feels something boil under their flesh and a large red eye appears over the door and the door is gone.*
???: ENTITY-1 is attacking! system go into full lockdown! *a blareing noise fills the lab*

"Agh-" It hisses, gripping at its arms and shoulders and shrinking back away from the door.
Why is is so loud?
Where is Seven?
Who are these people and what the F**K is an entity-1?
It couldn't breathe. Why was it so hard to breathe?
The door is gone so does it keep going? Not like it has death to fear.

*the red eye stares at Ink. Ink cannot help but feel as if whatever it is... it wants to help.*
???: human! back up before you are potentially harmed!

"Screw off!" It wasn't about to listen to the monster that took its friend.
It looked hopefully up at the eye.
"Can you help me?"

*the doors slowly begin twitching, either ink goes NOW or 007 might be gone.*
???: last chance before I authorize lethal force!

It nodded, glanced back at the unknown scientist, and sprinted through the doors.
Lethal force. Good luck with that.

???: fine. system, shut down all light sources in corridor 25-B to corridor 24-C. *the lights remain on* f**king piece of shit anomaly! *he slams his fists into a nearby computer.*

"Thank you." It called to its anomalous helper. "Where am I going? 24-C they said? That it?"

*Ink eventually makes it to a room which is pitch black... does it turn on the lights and enter?*

"Put them in the dark room." Ink mumbled what the man had said before under its breath as it approached the room. Ink flicks on the lights and steps inside.

007: . . . *an empty costume lays on the floor, nothing is inside it anymore. . .*
(welp, R.I.P. 007.)

It stands staring for a moment.
"Seven?"
It carefully approaches the limp costume, crouching down beside it.
"Seven, hey, c'mon." It lifts up its still-intact arm.
Nothing.
"No, no no no no no!" It gathered up the costume into it's lap. "No, no what'd I do? Why'd I bring you in here? Sev c'mon." Its eyes welled up. After this long it finally remembered how to cry.
Ink stared down at its gloved hand. Seven's hand.
It covered its face with it and wept.

007: . . . *nothing*

It clung onto the costume. It didn't want to move.
This isn't fair.
This can't be how it works.
"I'm sorry." It whispered, muffled, into the rancid fabric of the costume. Right now, the smell was the least of its concerns.

*mechanical tendrils begin to extend from holes in the wall, no time to mourn.*

It straightened up, eyes wide and blank. It's almost willing to let the tendrils take it. What's the point now? Going home? What's left at 'home'? Its one good friend, one of the few kind faces in its memory, replaced or not, is dead.
It wanted to stay. Let those tendrils try. Bite and claw and tear them to scrap. It pictured how satisfying that'd be.
But self-preservation got the better of it, forced it to drop the body, to stand, to run.
It wanted to fight. But its unruly flesh had other plans.

???: get back here yo- *Ink's body once again moves on it's own while running by, slugging the skeleton straight in the skull, making it disconnect from the body which scrambles frantically* how DARE you!!

THAT felt good.
"Awh, lose something?! Guess we're even!" It shrieked over its shoulder as it ran.

???: *he grabs his head and puts it back on* when I catch y-
Trav: *he turns the corner and uses an axe to break one of the other skeleton's legs in half*
???: YOU!

It stumbles and whips around. "Trav!"
Its real this time, it has to be.
It rushes over to him.

(no i'm not crying irl whyt do you ask?)

(AUGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH)

(well my goal was to make that as painful as possible so yippie)

Trav: just keep running while I take care of Ron! *well now ink has a name for the bastard*
Ron: this time you will NOT run! you will die tonight! you will pay for everything you've done! *he attempts to swing at Trav but is quickly hit in his other leg with the axe.*

Why leave him? Now? When they just found him again? Is it supposed to risk losing another person even if he's clearly winning?
Still, maybe it's best to listen.
"A-alright, good luck."
It stepped back a bit before turning to run again.

Ron: system... restrain the traitor!
Trav: as your rightful maker I demand y- *a tendril slams through the back of his chest and wraps around several of his ribs* AGH!

And THAT risk is something Ink's not about to allow. Again it turns heel.
"Drop me the axe!" It commands

Trav: *they toss the axe to ink*
Ron: oh no you don't system catch that a- *he is cut off by Trav grabbing the tendril currently through his ribs and slamming it through the top of ron's skull*

For good measure, Ink heaves the axe up and brings it down on Ron's ribcage.

Ron: *they attempt to speak but due to their cracked skull they are unable to*
Trav: tr-transfer command over to new overseer, biomarker Z-1820. . . *he pulls out a small necklace with a green card on it and tosses it to ink.*

It lets go of the axe and catches the card, throwing it around its neck. "Are you okay?"

Trav: I'll feel much better wit- *the tendril tightens snapping several ribs* say system let go- NOW!

"I- uh- System, let go?" It stammered urgently.

System: new overseer detected, registering voice. *the tendril in trav's chest slowly exits.*
Trav: you think I'd be used to the pain by now...

"New overseer?" Its brows furrowed, before it stepped over to stand by Trav. "You're alright?"

Trav: I've been through worse... *he begins walking over to a room with the words fabricator on a sign above it.* follow me.

It nodded, fiddling with the green card, and followed.

*a large machine lays in the middle of the room.*
Trav: using energy harvested from Entity-1 this beauty of a machine can fabricate anything, even the dead... mind asking it to fabricate me some new ribs, and a spine.

"I..." Fabrication. Even of the dead.
That would be wonderful.
But would it be the same?
"Yeah. Hey, can you make this guy some new ribs and vertebrae?" It called to the machine

System: of course dear overseer! *it begins working on making the bones.*
Trav: strange... I don't recall the system having any personality.

"'Dear'?" Weird.
It fidgeted with its own hands, itching at the plush. "I have a lot to tell you about.

Trav: go on... *he lets some tendrils replace his broken bones with the new ones.*

"I mean... I met the guy that ate your skin." It looked up. "They tried to take my eye but didn't. I got away." It picked harder at the fuzz of the glove. "Then I met... well, it's gone now, but... Seven."

Trav: so you met two parasites? well I guess 007 is more so a victim of it's own nature... was Ron stupid enough to put it in the dark room?

"It wasn't a parasite." It muttered bitterly. "Seven? I... think so, I found it in *A* dark room. It... it's not... around anymore."

Trav: well it seems 007 isn't really dead. the thing with how it gets biomass for it's actual body is it takes over the body of the person who "killed it" aka used the shadows to destroy the biomass under the costume... and since the system was the one who put them in the dark room.
System?: . . . . well at least I can finally speak!

It straightened up and stared up at the machine.
No, that...
"Seven?"

Seven: yep..... hi ink!

Without hesitation, Ink rushed over to hug the machine containing its friend. Or, as best as it could. Hugging large machines is tough.
"You're not dead!" it practically sobbed.

Seven: well I mean technically... but I am confined to this lab forever now, so... not that fun! but I'll make it feel like home eventually...

It pressed its cheek against the metal. "Yeah, but- we- we'll figure it out, I'm just glad you're okay..."

seven: *a couple tendrils exit the walls and wrap around ink as if to hug them* you are aware I'm not the fabricator right?

"Look, I'll hug whatever specific mechanism you want me to." It giggled.

seven: well if you won't complain then I won't either!
Trav: ... *he coughs, well not really.* anyways... why the hell were you in lab delta anyway?

"Who, me? I've just been poking my head in every building I see. And the Fae told me to look for a lab."

Trav: the Fae are mythological entities that do not exist.
seven: well.... if this realm existed without you humans knows what's to say the "Fae" aren't real?
Trav: . . . fair point.

"By 'the fae' I meant Maro- y'know, your skin thief."
It sucked air through its teeth.
"They mentioned the lab. And their boss. The shadows mentioned other labs. Seven here had that "boss" on the tags of all its stuff- did you know they made merch of me? Crazy, I know!"

Trav: no offense but that's a thing it does for everything 007 latches onto.
Seven: ... sorry ink...

"Dude, either way it's insane to think about, that's basically Youtooz or something." It shook it's head. "Anyways! the point stands, that's why I'm here."

Trav: so "maro" is asking you to make it to lab alpha....

"I guess."

Trav: well I oughta warn you about what lies in the other labs.

"You're not coming with this time either?"

Trav: I have stuff to do here.

"Like what?"

Trav: well there's the gamma lab first... it's filled with many hostile entities, the system must be overcharged there due to the sheer amount of power we were producing.

"What do you mean? As in, power being produced HERE or at Gamma?"

Trav: at gamma, we tested on the anomalies there... for just a new power source. *he sounds guilty*
Seven: since I am now connected to other labs I could pull up files on what's in them if you want!

"Ooh! Yes!" It looked to wherever it had decided Seven was this time. "And hey, worst comes to worst, send me over there, I've got a great track record of talking it out with 'hostile entities'!"

Seven: well... the system in the gamma and alpha lab aren't responding. however the beta lab seems happy to share info!

"What's it got?"

Seven: some sort of machine known as M.A.T.T.A.A. or MATTAA, the acronym stands for Mechanical Auotmatic Turret To Anhilate Anomalies.
Trav: also built to care for the scientests of the beta lab, so more so a killer machine who wants anomalies dead, and humans safe at all costs.

"'Annihilate'! Wow! What a word choice." It raised a brow. "So what, do we bring that from Beta to Gamma to clear out the mess there?" It would rather not kill any of the entities at all, but if it can't talk things over it needs a plan B.

*automatic

Seven: well I can make some headphones with a mic so we can talk while you explore!

"That'd be great, yeah! Thanks."

Seven: *the fabricator turns on* there's some blueprints for hollow bullets... it seems the shadows can work in them? no clue how, won't kill them but sure as hell will do damage!

"So there's a pseudo-pacifist method to this?"

Seven: yeah... I can either give you hollow bullets which could kill if you shoot enough, or somewhere fatal, or you could use normal bullets for their stopping force!

"I've never even shot a gun."

Seven: . . . well I can make you a shooting assistant, aka me!
(I AM SO SORRY FOR TAKING SO LONG.)

"If it means I get to take you along, sure!"

Seven: *it begins fabricating a small set of goggles.*

"Thank you." It offers a small but warm smile

seven: anything for you!

It takes the fabricated goggles and props them up in its hair. "I just said 'thank you' but I'll say it again for good measure."

Seven: make sure to be hydrated as well! even if you cannot die! *it produces some water bottles*

It hadn't drank water in ages. When was it last offered a drink? Maro's house? No no, Seven's place had drinks too. But it hadn't trusted either. Now it knew better. It took the bottles. It looked over suddenly. "Trav, you don't really have most of you. Are you still able to drink?" It asked out of genuine curiosity

Trav: no clue, but I don't feel hungry. or thirsty. so I'm assuming... no.

"Well, we're all scientists here and you're welcome to find out." It offered one of the water bottles.

Trav: *they shrug and attempt to drink it, and the water just falls through them staining their lab coat.* well so much for that.

"Yeah I kind of expected that. Sorry."

Trav: honestly this is the closest my coat has been to getting washed.

"Well then, call it a miracle." It snickered. "This it, then?"

Trav: well you can search the lab if you want, maybe you'll find something?

"Sure! If we're not in a rush. Where is... anything? Contrary to popular belief even as Overseer I've never been here!" It giggled.

Trav: well this was made as a bunker so it's filled mostly with storage areas.

"Sounds good to me!" It turns to walk off. "You wanna come? Or you got your own stuff to do?"

Trav: I'm going to go check if that jerk is still around. he might've fled.

"He's in pieces, I kinda doubt it. But go ahead." It heads for the doorway. "Oh, and stay safe, okay?"

Trav: *he grabs the axe* well I'm armed and he's not. so I'll be safe.

"If you say so." It nodded and marched off to search around.

*mostly just junk, however Ink finds an intact note on a desk. it's labeled R instead of T this time.*

~Ron.~
Doesn't sound like a very villainous name, but you never judge a book by it's... title? It's not Ink's job to say anything that makes sense.
It snatches up the note and reads it over.

*it's mostly just insane rambling but it does have an interesting section, "to my "DEAR" coworker T----- I hope you know that if you 're reading this then I am glad to have released a subject back into their natural area! what one? wouldn't you like to know. I have offically labeled you as an anomaly mister "subject 150". now for your log, Subect 150 is a humaniod skeleton of known origion, he used to be known as T----- before his skin was peeled off by an anomaly, the entity seems to have erased most of his memories, lucky him. he is scheduled for the dark room."*

It snorted. This was almost cartoonish.
"Good luck sending him there now." It carelessly shoved the note in it's pocket. Trav might want to see it but Ink wasn't about to give this object any more respect than it deserved, which, as far as Ink was concerned, was next to none.
It went on walking. It wasn't too hopeful to find more things, but it never hurt to check around.

*it finds a fireplace... with multiple burnt notes inside, all with the letter T on them.*

Destroying his work?
~Or some ex-lovers' quarrel.~ It thought with a snort.
It crouched down to gather up some of the notes. Maybe there were parts still legible to get a clue.

*some random sentances such as "M.A.T.T.A. shows signs of affection despite not being programmed for-" and "ENTITY-1 seems to have multiple-" but it's all to ruined to make anything out clearly.*

It picked up a few of these notes and tucked them away more delicately. More stuff to ask Trav about.
Is this enough? Maybe one last sift around.

*there is one final item, a strange red eye pin...*

That it snatches up in a heartbeat, not only because it's brain operated exactly like that of a corvid, but because it knew that symbol. Boy did it from the piles of Ink merch in a particular entity's house. Presumably, someone here is affiliated with this boss, and having seen nobody else, it could only really pin (ha) that assumption on Ron.
Though, if that were true, why was it here, practically discarded?
More questions for later. Having completed the fiction-typical three-place search, it considered itself done and stepped out into the hall headed for the fabricator room, the arbitrarily self-decided meet-back-here place.

Trav: *he is pacing around looking annoyed.*

“Trav! I have found many a thing you might wanna look at! Everything alright?”

*too ruined

Trav: he's gone. no clue how but he's gone.

"As in his bits and pieces just..." It did a sort of poof motion with its hands.

Trav: yep. my best guess is the darkness got him.
Seven: well that's impossible... I didn't shut off the lights in the room he was in.

"You think they all bounced and rolled away out the door? Or his legs grew back?"

Trav: no clue.

"Do we wanna look for him? Or just... not worry about it?"

Trav: knowing him he won't last a day, so let's not worry.

"Sounds good to me." it shrugged. "Anyways I found a bunch of stuff. Apparently you were classified as an entity and scheduled for death" it explained quickly and casually.

Trav: . . . . .
Seven: ... wow. twinsies....?

"I mean, it's not like the guy who sentenced you is around to do it, so... you're in the clear far as I'm aware." It patted him on the shoulder.

(seven I love you so much)

Trav: well so much for me being able to assist you in the next lab.
Seven: well you can stay here with me! I'm sure we have something to do here, after all this lab was made to be lived in!
(I also love seven)

"oh riiiight, because of the Entity Wrecker. Oh, speaking of!" It dug around its pocket again. "Found a bunch of burnt notes. One of them mentioned that MATTAA thing I think." It passed over the burnt scraps.

Trav: oh, right. these are my notes. well I can sum it up for you, MATTA was showing signs of affection for lab workers, no clue why. maybe something in the realm got into it?

*MATTAA

"Well..." It looked back towards the walls where it had decided Seven was this time. "We got a situation kinda like that, don't we?"

Seve: well I'm one of a kind! ... hopefully.

"That's to say it's not out of the question that it's a similar situation. Of an entity taking over the thing. That, or it's like the stories where the robots defy their programming and grow to value the humans around them. Who knows." It shrugged.

Seven: ... hopefully the second option. because knowing that there might be others like me... well... I just never really considered it.

"Don't worry, you'd still be the best one." It assured. "One last thing." It dug the pin out of its pocket. "Found this."

Trav: *he grabs it, a bit too fast since the sharp part of the pin pricks ink.* where the hell did you find this?

"In a pile of junk."

Trav: *he kicks a random machine* damn it!
Seven: hey that hurt!
Trav: shut it! if it found this pin in a locker or something we could know who the hell released all the anomalies! this pin no doubt belongs to the traitor!

"Wait wait wait, traitor?" It held its hands up.

Trav: they're the reason everything went to hell! do you think the anomalies could've escaped on their own when each had custom containment? no! that's the reason Ron wants me dead! he thinks I'm the traitor!

"So it's not Ron's. Yeah that tracks." It nodded. "It's kinda pretty though, can I have it?" Clearly it's priorities are perfectly straight and not skewed in the slightest.

Trav: *he sighs* sure. you seem to have the favor of ENTITY-1 anyways.

"Huh? Entity- you mean the thing that held the doors for me?" It looked back at the pin.
"It... *did* have that red eye..."

Trav: I saw. you've not only encountered multiple anomalies and lived with MOST of your flesh, but you've changed seven's situation in a long time, and you've attracted the admiration of ENTITY-1... you're one special person you know.

"You think?"
~That's what they told me in third grade. Guess we're seeing the proof!~
"I mean, I've just kind of... talked. To them."

Trav: well so far it's been working. you just keep doing you.

“You got it, boss!” It gave a thumbs up.

Trav: you're making me proud kid. *he pats ink's back.*

Ink beamed up at him. "Well, I should hope so!"

Seven: man... I wish I had a parental figure.
Trav: wha- I AM NOT A PARENTAL FIGURE I AM 36 YEARS OLD!!

“SERIOUSLY?” It looked up at him wide-eyed.
Look, it’s hard to tell without the skin and when you meet the guy hunched over on the side of the road saying he’d too messed up to come along with you.

Trav: well that's how old I was when I got skinned... so maybe not?

"Yeah, no idea how time works here because of how long daytime lasts. It could've been weeks, months, years since I got here, I wouldn't know."

Trav: most likely at least a month at minimum.

"Yikes!" Felt accurate enough, but do you have any idea what kind of stuff can happen in a month? What was going on out there back home?
...
Maybe it didn't really care to wonder much. Right now its priorities were here.

Trav: I know, not that fun.

"Yeah. But-" It shook its head. "It's fine. Maybe we should just get going. Anything else we gotta do before we go?"

Trav: nope.

"Then... I guess I should head out?" It looked up.

you there m8?))