Haze pt 4: TERTIARY FALLOUT

Nil:

Good luck, Segun. It still looks weird seeing you in that transport chair.

Segun:

Why do I get the feeling that’s not what you want to say?

Nil:

I got you the code copy, but I don’t think this is a good idea. The Streamers are already hazing you. If something goes wrong…

Segun:

Do you not believe in me, Nil? Do you believe my existence is breaking the world?

Nil:

…The Server…finds you interesting. Impossible things happen around you, Segun, and mostly that’s been for the better. Odds are, bad things have to happen, too, though. I hope it’s not you, but I can’t believe it’s not you, not with all I’ve witnessed.

Segun:

Then I’ll just have to prove it to you, too.

Nil:

Don’t be upset. I don’t want it to be you. I would do anything to save you.

Segun:

I’d better go. The Flag match is starting. Will you watch?

Nil:

Of course. And the Ally Rose looks pretty tucked beside your fox ears like that.

Segun:

Thank- Ack! That teleporter still gets my stomach all twisted.

Announcer:

Team Gold vs Team Amethyst. Match Begin!

Segun:

Wait, what team am I on? And I barely know how to play this game. I thought there would be a tutorial for newcomers.

Fluffy:

This isn’t a b-baby match.

Segun:

Hey, it’s you again. Are we on the same team?

Fluffy:

Unfortunately, yes, c-complete with matching gold bracelets.

Segun:

Are you better at this than at racing?

Fluffy:

Ouch!

Segun:

Did you hurt yourself?

Fluffy:

No, you just— never mind. Get a m-move on. Everyone else is leaving us b-behind.

Segun:

So, we climb these vertical chains?

Fluffy:

Climb. Swing. The chains are the p-playing field.

Segun:

And there are supposed to be flags? I don’t see any.

Fluffy:

They’re wrapped around everyone’s n-necks.

Segun:

Oh, the bandanas are the flags. Got it. Whoa! Jumping from one chain to the next is not easy.

Fluffy:

Swing your hips to get your chain m-moving before you leap. It adds to your m-momentum.

Segun:

Like this?

Fluffy:

Y-yeah, l-like t-that.

Segun:

Why so squeaky?

Fluffy:

No reason.

Segun:

Hey! That guy just stole my bandana!

Fluffy:

That’s the p-point. You have to steal all the other team’s b-bandanas and have all of your own, then get to the endzone and t-trade the bandanas for the opponent’s gemstone.

Segun:

Then I’d better go get mine back! And take his while I’m at it.

~WHOOSH~ ~SPLASH~

Segun:

What ~COUGH-COUGH~ happened? Why did the ceiling fall and dunk us in the pool?

Announcer:

One gem awarded to Team Amethyst. Players, take positions on the chains at the outer edges of the field. Round two begins when the ceiling has risen back into place.

Segun:

Finally, some instruction at least. Is the other team that good? They sure got all of our bandanas in a hurry.

Fluffy:

No thanks t-to you.

Segun:

You either. I don’t think you even noticed your bandana was missing. Speaking of which, mine’s back. It just kind of appeared.

Fluffy:

Try not to lose it this t-time.

Segun:

Right back at ya.

~RING~

Announcer:

Round two. Begin.

Segun:

Oh no you don’t, purple team dude. How about I take your— Agg!

Whew! That was close.

Fluffy:

You have to remember to hold on to the chains.

Segun:

I didn’t forget. It was just a bad jump, okay? All these rattling sounds are jarring my nerves. I need to get in the zone and concentrate.

Fluffy:

G-good luck with that. I’m going to go f-find some purple bandanas to steal.

Segun:

Oof! Meanie purple team guy. It’s rude to crash into others with your big pig stomach! Wah, that was close! Stop charging at me! I’m new to this.

Pig:

Does that mean I should go easy on you? Fat chance.

Segun:

No, I’ll get the hang of this swinging stuff. Just— whoa, your stomach is a great springboard. I’ll take this, thank you!

Pig:

My bandana!

Amethyst:

No, thank you.

Segun:

Hey, you took both—

Amethyst:

Look at her, Pig, like a deer in the headlights all of a sudden.

Segun:

For a second there, I thought you were Knight. You look like him, all huge and red. Wait, your name really is Pig?

Pig:

It’s my master’s favorite animal. Bought every pig mod there was.

Amethyst:

Knight as in the missing Knight, the one the glitch erased?

Pig:

Man, that glitch should be deleted.

Amethyst:

I second that.

Segun:

Take that back. You don’t know what you’re talking about.

Amethyst:

Hehehe, look at that fuzzy tail and those flattened ears. You think she’s angry, Pig?

Captain:

What are you two doing circling that little girl? If you’ve already gotten her bandana, move on. We’ll lose ratings if the audience thinks you’re bullies.

Pig:

Yes, Captain.

Segun:

Ha!

Amethyst:

Ug, Pig get her off! She’s choking me!

Segun:

These bandanas are mine! This one, too!

Pig:

Ow! Penalty, penalty! She jumped on my head.

Segun:

I did not. I leapt off your shoulder.

Captain:

Don’t just hang there, dimwits! After her!

Segun:

Server, this is terrifying, but somehow also fun? Why did you suggest Death Matches before this back when you asked if I wanted to do another sport?

…Still not talking to me? That’s alright. I can do this on my own. No one has disappeared yet. No voids have popped up and tried to eat anyone.

~SNAP~

Segun:

Aggg! Oof. What happened to my chain? Am I supposed to call penalty?

Announcer:

Please remain calm.

Fluffy:

Why are chains d-disintegrating?

Pig:

Look at the stands!

Announcer:

Please remain calm and seated.

Pig:

Fat chance of that. The stadium is turning into pixels and floating off. No way those spectators are gonna stay in their chairs.

Amethyst:

See what ya did, little glitch lover? You brought the curse here just by thinking about it.

Segun:

Whoa, don’t swing at me! A kick like that could do serious damage. This isn’t a Death Match.

Pig:

Captain just got crunched by a big, black nothing.

Segun:

N-nothing isn’t scary.

Amethyst:

It is when it eats you.

Segun:

Seriously, stop trying to kick me. I’m pretty sure it’s against the rules.

Pig:

What rules? This is a battle for survival now.

Fluffy:

Agggg—

Segun:

Fluffy? No, it ate him, too. Why is this happening?

Pig:

That’s what we want to—

Segun:

Pig? Anybody? Why is it so dark?

Nil:

I brought you back to the Kennel. That whole stadium was crumbling.

Segun:

Has ~GULP~ Has anything like that ever happened before?

Nil:

I don’t know much about the other sports, just Death Matches because the streams talk about them so much and the races because that’s what our Masters watch, but…

Segun:

You think it was because of me.

Nil:

It can’t be a coincidence.

Segun:

…

Nil:

Hey, cheer up.

Segun:

Why? My existence is destroying our world.

Nil:

Did you at least figure out what that flower does?

Segun:

Besides tug on my hair when my ears move?

Nil:

Yeah, I noticed you weren’t moving that left one as much. Besides that…?

Segun:

Unless it destroyed the stadium, no. Do you think others made it out?

Nil:

…What I’m really afraid of is that none of them did, not even the Masters watching. That lady from the council will advocate to delete you for sure, then.

Segun:

But you don’t know? They could have made it? And those that did get sucked in, they could still be alive, waiting for us to rescue them somewhere.

Nil:

But without a connection to the Server…

Segun:

It’s possible, right? I need to find them. I’ll rescue them.

Nil:

…Segun, I really think you need to stay in the Kennel like the Committee said.

Segun:

You’re not on my team anymore, Nil?

Nil:

Please don’t fold your ears like that. I’m not betraying you. I want to help you, but you have to do what’s safe in the meantime while I figure out how to do that.

Segun:

How, Nil? How are you going to help me? Do you even know where to start?

Continued in pt 5

Thank you for reading!