[VIDEO FEED ADJUSTS TO A VAST, WHITE-LIT MC ESCHER STYLED CYLINDRICAL SPIRAL OF TOWERS WITH MULTIPLE “DOORS”. STAIRS APPEAR TO BE MADE OF A SOLID BLACK WITH MAGENTA VEINS. THE CENTER HAS A BLUE SPIRE OF LIGHT GOING UPWARDS FROM A SMALL POND]
ELNA:
{NOT DESCRIBING THE CEILING! Too many corruptive effects}
JOHN:
> ADJUSTS EYES AND TAKES IN VIEW {except for the ceiling} IN AWE
*whispering* Wow…
ELNA:
> NUDGES JOHN
*whispering* Don’t look at the ceiling…
JOHN:
> TURNS TO {me} ALARMED AND QUICKLY NODS
ONARIUS:
*slowly* This is the Grand Prison. A maze of stairs, hallways, and rooms that is very difficult to navigate; intentionally made to ensure that none of the prisoners get out. The spire you see is a Purification Spire, stemming from the Kernel Layer. Raw, unfettered data that can never be corrupted.
JOHN:
> ANALYZES EVERY CORNER OF THE PRISON FOR SEVERAL SECONDS
How many prisoners are there here?
ONARIUS:
> STARES AT JOHN DISMISSIVELY
Quite a few…More than you can count in a lifetime. Many are from different worlds like yours.
JOHN:
> STARES SUSPCIOUS AT ONARIUS
How many?
ELNA:
> SNORTS
*jokingly* A number which Onarius doesn’t know himself…
ONARIUS:
> GLARES THEN SMIRKS
Quite true…
ELNA:
> EYES WIDEN
JOHN:
> RAISES EYEBROWS
ONARIUS:
> DEEP SIGH AND BECKONS DUO TO FOLLOW
This way please…I’ll explain everything as we go…
[VIDEO FEED SHOWS TRIO {travelling to the stairs}
ONARIUS:
The fountain in the center is a beam of purified code, which is needed to ensure that the inmates stay in…
JOHN:
>LOOKS AT SEVERAL CELLS {windows of purified code}
[VIDEO FEED SHOWS VARIOUS, BLACK CELLS WITH MAGENTA VEINS WITH A MULTITUDE OF PRISONERS. THE OUTSIDES OF THE CELLS DISPLAY NAMES AND A LIST OF CRIMES. NUMEROUS GLITCHED, STRESSED, AND/OR TWITCHING HUMANOID FIGURES {like Bmod machinimas…if some of the actors were an epilepsy warning in missing textures} SPOTTED. NO AUDIBLE SOUNDS DETECTED {though a lot appear to be screaming at the top of their lungs}]
JOHN:
> VISIBLY SHAKING
ONARIUS:
…They themselves are made of corrupted code slowly fragmenting to which it can dissipate…
JOHN:
*exasperated* Did you do this to them?
ONARIUS:
> STARES BLANKLY AT ONE PRISONER THRASHING AGAINST THE CELL WINDOW
They do that themselves…
> DRAWS AXE WHICH MAKES ENTITY FLEE TO EDGE OF CELL
All are here for a litany of heinous crimes which themselves are so vile, they warrant their complete removal from the human world.
ELNA:
> ROLLS EYES
Which is normal…
JOHN:
> STARES AT {me} WITH AWKWARD CONCERNED
Normal in what-?
ELNA:
> CLEARS THROAT, NERVOUSLY
He means that the cells themselves are self-reflective chambers that replay their very memories to show how bad their actions were-
ONARIUS:
-That lasts for a few months to their perception in the Physical Layer.
> ANGRILY GLARES AT ELNA BEFORE TURNING TO JOHN
{It’s rude to interrupt someone, Elna}
ELNA:
> LOOKS AWAY, DISMISSIVELY
{Sorry}
ONARIUS:
> SIGHS AND CALMS DOWN
*slowly* …I do not like to torture any sentient being, yet I do not want these “demons” returning to the Physical Layer, your world. The lives they ruined is beyond redemption, and the plaques on their cells are for them to see as well to see the weight of their sins…
> BECKONS THE DUO TO FOLLOW AND CONTINUES WALKING
JOHN:
> SHAKES HEAD IN DISBELIEF
So you leave these prisoners here to suffocate and then-
> WITNESSES A PRISONER CELL INCARCERATED FOR CANNIBALISM
> GAGS
*meekly* -“fragment”?
> EYES WIDEN WHILE FRANTICALLY LOOKING AROUND
*exasperated* What does that even mean?!
ONARIUS:
> WALKS SLOWER, AND TURNS TO JOHN
You’ll see further down…
JOHN:
“Down”? Don’t you mean up?
ELNA:
> SMIRKS
*boisterous* We’re technically upside down…
ONARIUS:
> GLARES AT {me}
ELNA:
> SMILE FADES
*awkwardly* Uh…Actually, don’t think about the direction we’re going; that can be potentially corruptive.
ONARIUS:
> SMILES AND WALKS OFF
JOHN:
> NODS FRANTICALLY
*whispering to self* What a shithole…
ELNA:
{It’s going to take a while, so I’ll resume the transcript once we get to something more interesting. There isn’t a whole lot of talking-except for me talking to myself...
John was more curious about the prisoners conditions…and the plaques. He almost tripped down the stairs a few times while observing things. He’s so serious, that-…
…
…Jeez, Onarius is a real killjoy. I just talked to him and he isn’t appreciative of that joke I made.
…
And we had another conversation about my choice of words. Maybe I should shut up?
…
Never mind, he wants me to continue talking to you. Also, he wants me to stop doing this}
[00:31:14.22]
[VIDEO FEED IS SOMEWHAT BRIGHTER]
JOHN:
> INTENSELY OBSERVES MULTIPLE CELLS WHILE WALKING
*mumbling* And this is justice for someone like him…
ELNA:
> WORRIDLY STARES AT ONARIUS
{Uhm…So uh, I have a few questions about, well, what’s been going on for the past 58 years}
ONARIUS:
{Go ahead}
ELNA:
> CURIOUS
{John told me you were more busy with the subjects of malevolent incidents, specifically a lot of disappearances. I think mainly those things on Warden Watch seem contradictory to what you do and-}
ONARIUS:
{Yes. I have been a lot busier since you last came here, he is correct}
ELNA:
> EYES WIDEN
{Well, that deal with him in 2011, that made you proactive with handling malevolent targets. Though…he did say something about it becoming more common some time after 2020…What happened?}
ONARIUS:
> SADDENED EXPRESSION
ELNA:
> CURIOUS
{Was it something I said?}
ONARIUS:
{No, but my authority has been expanded upon, with Ned’s permission, along with those who know me…}
ELNA:
> SQUINTS
{What do you mean?}
ONARIUS:
> LOOKS AWAY
{Elna…John}
ELNA:
> EYES WIDEN AS JOHN ALMOST FALLS OVER EDGE OF CURRENT PATH WHILE LOOKING AT A DISTANT CELL
> PULLS ROPE TIGHTLY
JOHN:
> YELPS WHILST SWEARING A LOT
ELNA:
> ANGRY WHILE STRUGGLING
*exasperated* Really man?! What part of non-Euclidian geometry makes you think the path won’t just disappear in front of you?! You could have dragged us down!
ONARIUS:
> HELPS {me} PULL JOHN BACK ON HIS BUTT
JOHN:
> CALMS WHILE GLARING AT ONARIUS
You should have put guard rails then.
ONARIUS:
It is designed this way for a reason.
JOHN:
> ROLLS EYES BEFORE LOOKING AT SEVERAL CELLS
Fair enough…
> EMBARRASSED WHILE STANDING UP
Sorry…I was looking at that cell.
> POINTS TO AN ODDLY, MULTI-COLORED COLORED CELL
Given how sparse the cells are, why do you allow rave parties?
ONARIUS:
> SHAKES HEAD
*muttering* I don’t.
JOHN:
> STARES AT CELL, CONCERNED
ONARIUS:
That would be an inmate about to fragment…
> BECKONS {us} TO FOLLOW
[VIDEO FEED SHOWS TRIO APPROACHING CELL]
ONARIUS:
…This man was imprisoned on November 14th; roughly a day after he was imprisoned in the real world for drug trafficking, domestic abuse, and assault.
JOHN:
> EYES WIDEN
*exasperated* Wait a minute! Is that the ex of that woman I interviewed?!
ONARIUS:
> NODS AND CLEARS THROAT
Yes, that would be him.
> POINTS TO PLAQUE IDENTIFYING INMATE AS [REDACTED] AND THEN THE ENTITY
[VIDEO FEED SHOWS A SPORADICALLY GLITCHING {blob spike} WITH SOME DISTINCTIVE HUMANOID FEATURES]
ONARIUS:
> BLANKLY STARES AT ENTITY
He has been in this world for 510 days…or 51 days in your world.
JOHN:
> ALARMED
You left him here in this cell, alone, for that long?
ONARIUS:
> NODS
ELNA:
> CHIMES IN
It’s standard procedure to ensure proper fragmentation.
JOHN:
> GLARES AT {me}
*slowly* You’re okay with letting a man suffer?
ELNA:
> ROLLS EYES
He had it coming…
JOHN:
> GLARES AT {me}
*muttering* Suffering begets suffering kiddo.
ONARIUS:
> PLACES SHIELD BETWEEN {us}
> STARES AT {me} INTENSELY
May I remind you that John is here as a guest? His questions, while seemingly aggressive, are warranted.
ELNA:
*frantically* But he-!
ONARIUS:
> GEMSTONE FLARES UP
*bellowing* Mind your tongue, child!
ELNA:
> RETREATS
JOHN:
> OBSERVES ENTITY, CONFUSED
Why is he glowing like that then?
ONARIUS:
It signals his mind has finally given in.
JOHN:
> SQUINTS AT ONARIUS
*exasperated* Because of his isolation for 510 days?!
ONARIUS:
> SHAKES HEAD
No. He realizes the weight of his sins.
JOHN:
> SHAKING AND SWEATING PROFUSELY
*panicked* You mean he’s gone crazy?!
ONARIUS:
> HUSHES JOHN AND POINTS TO GLITCHING MASS
[VIDEO FEED SHOWS ENTITY RAPIDLY GLOWING AND SPIKING, THEN SUDDENLY {blows up} INTO SEVERAL BITS ACROSS THE CELL. {Video feed also shows John screaming manically with Onarius catching him}
JOHN:
> HEAVY BREATHING WHILE LOOKING AT ONARIUS TERRIFIED
*panicked* WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO HIM?!
ONARIUS:
> CALM
*gently* Nothing…His mind fragmented as a result of realizing his very sin from a sheer onslaught of denial. As a result, his data was completely fragmented. The entity known as [REDACTED] fragmented as expected.
JOHN:
> BREATHING QUICKENS WHILE CLENCHING FISTS
*exasperated* Is this what you and Ned do to people you don’t like?!
ONARIUS:
No. This is a normal death in this realm.
JOHN:
*exasperated* Normal? How the hell is letting a human being suffer for 510 days normal?!
ONARIUS:
The laws of this reality are different from yours, you’ve already seen that.
ELNA:
> CHIMES IN
Besides, he was a horrible person.
JOHN:
> GLARES AT {me}
*very slowly* You are okay with people ending up like-
> POINTS TO REMNANTS
-this?
ELNA:
> NERVOUS
Well, just bad people like this guy.
ONARIUS:
> GEMSTONE FLARES UP
*bellowing* Mind your tongue when speaking to a man who just witnessed someone fragment!
ELNA:
> RETREATS
JOHN:
> TURNS TO {me}, SUSPICIOUS
Uh huh, and tell me, what does Onarius think is a bad person? Or better yet, what does Ned think is a bad person?
ELNA:
> LOOKS AWAY, CONFUSED
*mumbling* I never thought of something like that before…
JOHN:
*slowy* Mm-hmm.
> GLARES AT ONARIUS
I think you know what prisoners Ned had forced you to imprison, don’t you?
ONARIUS:
> NODS DISMISSIVELY
JOHN:
Then, they ended up like him, huh?
ONARIUS:
> SIGHS DEEPLY
What you saw was mercy compared to what happened to those you have suspected.
JOHN:
> OUTSTRETCHES ARMS IN FRUSTRATION
*slowly* Mercy? You call isolating a man and leaving him to suffer for 510 days mercy?
ONARIUS:
> TURNS TO JOHN SLOWLY AND TAKES OUT SHIELD, LEANING ON IT
The alternative is much worse.
> CALMS AND POINTS TO FRAGMENTED DATA
Now, those data fragments in question are the remains of [REDACTED], yes. Like many of the prisoners here, they end up like him.
ELNA:
> ATTEMPTS TO SPEAK
ONARIUS:
> GLARES AT ELNA
{Be silent}
ELNA:
> DOES AS TOLD
JOHN:
> CONFUSED
In what way is it a mercy from this "alternative"?
ONARIUS:
> SHAKES HEAD
The cells themselves were designed as isolation chambers, yes. Originally I planned for them to be a source of rehabilitation for the prisoners. It was to make them reflect, and hopefully, change for the better. This was for those who committed light offenses.
> LOWERS HEAD
Unfortunately, none of them ever changed, and the cells were converted to fragment the prisoners.
JOHN:
> POINTS TO [REDACTED]’S REMAINS
Like him?
ONARIUS:
> STARES EMPTILY AT REMAINS OF [REDACTED]
*quietly* The man in this cell…he was once a sweet innocent child like you two were. Full of joy and laughter, mired by circumstances outside of their control…
> DEEP SIGH
*quietly* …And this man became the thing that made him a monster.
> TURNS TO JOHN AND ELNA WITH A STERN LOOK
A life like this once had a chance, but destroyed it. I do not want to do that to any innocent life.
JOHN:
> TENSE
But you certainly have no problem abducting people.
ONARIUS:
> SADDENED
I have no choice…Either it's them, or your world.
JOHN:
> EYES WIDEN:
> CLEARS THROAT
The data, like from that guy, what happens to it?
ONARIUS:
> PUTS AWAY SHIELD, STANDS, AND QUIETLY TURNS BACK TO CELL
When something dies in the Eldrigital Void, at least in these cells, their fragmented data is purified, enough to be recycled.
JOHN:
> ADJUSTS SUNGLASSES, CURIOUS
To what…? For Ned’s own delusions?
ONARIUS:
> POINTS TO MAGENTA VEINS APPEARING IN THE CELL
[VIDEO FEED SHOWS THE MAGENTA VEINS EXITING THE CELL AND TRAVELLING {“down” (look, it’s really hard to perceive which direction is which sometimes) TO THE PURIFICATION SPIRE}
ONARIUS:
> TURNS TO JOHN BLANKLY
Food, to sustain beings far more powerful than me. An exchange…
> SNEERS
…A regretful one.
JOHN:
> CONFUSED
What are you feeding then?
ONARIUS:
Things that are not meant to be said, discussed, or even shown. Beings that are gatekeepers to a higher power greater than Ned-one he fears.
JOHN:
> VISIBLY TERRIFIED
Did you see them then El? Onarius? During this “blessing”?
ELNA:
> FRANTICALLY SHAKES HEAD
No, only in brief tales Ned told…
> CLEARS THROAT
No one has seen much of the Kernel Layer, save for him. I was blinded during my “blessing” to prevent me from becoming corrupted. What I do know though is-
ONARIUS:
> STOPS {me}
> DEEP SIGH WHILE STARING INTENSELY AT JOHN
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
The things below are appeased by the data flowing from the cells. Those who gifted the spire use the data to shape reality. The “others” use it to stave off their hunger; and those things have long been eying your world.
> STARES AT SPIRE CONTEMPLY
And where they are, a place much like “Cestranna”, they would endlessly torture them; never giving them rest or respite. But each time they are slain, they are resurrected as they make the “others” stronger.
Thus, this prison is a mercy compared to a hell I have only been shown once. And this place I made because of what I have seen in Cestranna…This place is finality, Cestranna is torture.
JOHN:
"The alternative" then?
ONARIUS:
>NODS SLOWLY
JOHN:
> WATCHES MAGENTA VEINS IN SILENCE AS THEY TRAVEL {downwards}
So…Better to be fragmented food than prey to some eldritch predator for all of eternity?
ONARIUS:
> NODS
*softly* Yes…
> DEEP SIGH
The victims, a reassurance that a monster no longer exists with them. The perpetrator, a way to find their own sins to come to peace with themselves, even if it seems painful to them.
JOHN:
> WATCHES IN SILENCE
Do the victims know?
ONARIUS:
Yes…I sent a message to the one you interviewed regarding [REDACTED]’s demise. She can be at peace now.
JOHN:
> CONTEMPLATING AND TURNS TO ONARIUS
It doesn’t excuse the suffering you have inflicted upon these prisoners. Bad or not, no one deserves to end up like that.
ONARIUS:
> DEFEATED SIGH
I know…But what lies beneath will not take kindly to a lack of food.
JOHN:
> DEEP SIGH
What about the other prisoners? The really bad ones?
ONARIUS:
> SADDENED
They go to the bottom…To where the False are imprisoned…
ELNA:
> BREATHING INCREASES
But that’s near the Kernel Layer. Why would you take humans down there? That’s insane!
ONARIUS:
> EYES FILL WITH DISGUST
An error that I have failed to subdue for a long time…
ELNA:
Error?
JOHN:
> STANDS IN FRONT OF ELNA, DEFENSIVE
*exasperated* And you mean for us to go down there, with a kid?!
ONARIUS:
> MAKES AN ODD LOOK TO JOHN {apparently motioning to me for some reason}
JOHN:
> RELAXES
ONARIUS:
*softly* There is a certain prisoner down there I want to remedy, but up until now, it wasn’t possible.
ELNA:
> TUGS JOHN
*whispering* Ask him who the prisoner is dude!
JOHN:
> SHAKES HEAD AND {looks away?}
ELNA:
> BECOMES SUSPICIOUS WHILE HEAD POKES OUT FROM JOHN’S BACK
Onarius…Who is this prisoner?
ONARIUS:
> TURNS AWAY TO SPIRE
You will see…
> DRAWS AXE AND TAPS THREE TIMES ON THE GROUND
[VIDEO FEED SHOWS AN ELEVATOR {a black 10’ X 10’ rectangle} APPEARING]
ONARIUS:
*softly* Normally, I would have Elna descend using the stairs for security reasons. However, considering a guest is not “blessed”, this is the only way to safely descend. Plus, we are on short notice.
> BECKONS DUO TO ENTER
JOHN:
And just when I was getting used to walking around…
> DOUBTFUL AS HE INSPECTS ELEVATOR INTERIOR FOR SEVERAL SECONDS
ELNA:
*whispering* Remember how I said this place is bigger on the inside than the outside?
JOHN:
> TURNS TO ELNA
*whispering* I know.
> HEADS TO THE ELEVATOR WITH {me}
ELNA:
{John is still cautious}
ONARIUS:
> TENSELY
{…He has every right to be}
ELNA:
> STARES AT ONARIUS, CONFUSED
{What do you mean?}
ONARIUS:
{You will see…}
[INTERIOR OF THE ELEVATOR SHOWS COMPLETE DARKNESS, OTHER THAN {blue veins this time; thank God}]
[VIDEO FEED SHOWS THE TRIO ENTERING THE ELEVATOR FOLLOWED BY IT CLOSING. BLUE VEINS, ONARIUS, AND ELNA ARE THE ONLY OBJECTS VISIBLE. CAMERA SHAKE INDICATES THE ELEVATOR IS CURRENTLY MOVING]
JOHN:
> EYES ONARIUS WITH SUSPICION
How long will this take?
ONARIUS:
An hour.
JOHN:
> SIGHS AND SITS
I think I’m going to take a little rest; just viewing this place has made my head spin…
ONARIUS:
> SMILES
You are free to do so. I personally recommend it myself to Elna.
ELNA:
> PAUSES AND FLUSTERS
*exasperated* I DO NOT FALL ASLEEP THAT EASILY!
JOHN:
> SMIRKS WITH ONARIUS
> DOZES OFF AND FALLS ASLEEP
ELNA:
> STARES AT JOHN, CONFUSED
{Just like that?}
ONARIUS:
{He had a headache from all of that. The sunglasses can only filter out so much. You too fell asleep many times}
ELNA:
> EYES WIDEN
{REALLY?!}
ONARIUS:
> SMIRKS
{Yes}
> WATCHES OVER JOHN INTENSELY BEFORE TURNING TO ELNA
{Since he is asleep, we have a lot to discuss…}
ELNA:
> NERVOUSLY
{About what?! I don’t recall anything to discuss about-!}
ONARIUS:
> ROLLS EYES
{Your behavior, specifically your manners}
> STARES AT {me} INTENSELY
{As for who you are transmitting all of this too, this is a private discussion. You can wait until we get to the bottom, which may be a vastly different time than to our perception}
ELNA:
{Sorry bud…}
{SKIPPING FOOTAGE…}
[01:41:08.09]
[VIDEO FEED SHOWS SHIFTING {John is waking up}
JOHN:
> WAKES UP GROANING
> OBSERVES {me} AND ONARIUS
Did anything happen while I was asleep?
ONARIUS:
> SHAKES HEAD
No, other than the fact me and Elna had a long discussion regarding…
> GLARES AT {me}
*muttering* …Manners.
ELNA:
> RETREATS
ONARIUS:
> HELPS JOHN UP CONCERNED
*gently* Are you feeling alright?
JOHN:
> SCRATCHING HEAD WHILE GROANING
*weakly* Yeah…
> CLEARS THROAT
How close are we to the bottom?
ONARIUS:
Pretty close, about a few more minutes.
JOHN:
> TURNS TO ONARIUS CONFUSED
How long was I out?
ELNA:
> SNICKERS
An hour…
JOHN:
> CONTENTLY SIGHS
It felt like 8 hours then…
ELNA:
> SURPRISED
ONARIUS:
> SMIRKS AND WAVES {me} OFF
We are approaching the lowest levels of the Grand Prison. That would take days, if not weeks or months without proper navigation and preparation. With the elevator, as I have said, it is only a few more minutes...
> NODS TO JOHN AND SNAPS FINGERS
[VIDEO FEED SHOWS ELNA FREEZING IN PLACE]
{AI TRANSCRIPT MODE ENABLED}
ONARIUS:
> FORMS DISRUPTOR CUBE AND PLACES IT ON ELNA’S HEAD
JOHN:
> OBSERVES ELNA SILENTLY
Why didn’t you do that before?
ONARIUS:
Ned would have noticed.
JOHN:
> POINTS TO DISRUPTOR CUBE
Is that really necessary?
ONARIUS:
> ANNOYED SIGH WHILE POINTING UP
Yes...
JOHN:
> SILENTLY NODS
ONARIUS:
> DEEP SIGH
I have kept her away from that man for so long in the hopes she does not see a monster like him.
JOHN:
> TENSELY
Which you have to.
ONARIUS:
*softly* Yes…
> QUIETLY STARES AT JOHN
It’s safe to take the sunglasses off here. Though on the bottom and with Elna, you will need to put them back on.
JOHN:
> TAKES OFF SUNGLASSES AND ADJUSTS EYES
Strange, why is my vision better?
ONARIUS:
*softly* Something to remedy a mistake I made.
JOHN:
> FROWNS
That does not excuse how you treat the prisoners.
ONARIUS:
> NODS SLOWLY
I know…
> STARES AT ELNA, SADDENLY WITH JOHN
JOHN:
That kid, she is messed up. The way she views people is not normal.
ONARIUS:
*softly* I know…
> STARES SADDENED AT ELNA
Despite my best efforts, Ned takes away those memories of the good of human kindness.
JOHN:
> STUDIES ELNA ANALYTICALLY
How many lectures did you have with her regarding her behavior?
ONARIUS:
Quite a few, this one was no different. And unfortunately, she has forgotten many of them.
> STARES AT JOHN BLANKLY
It’s tiring to know your efforts are for nothing when everything intended to help the one that sees you as a parent doesn’t even remember your words.
JOHN:
And he’ll do the same thing if we don’t get Elna out?
ONARIUS:
“Ellie”. That is her real name. Elna was the name given by of course Ned to strip her of her old identity. I do not like using something meant to enslave someone.
JOHN:
> CLENCHES FISTS
*muttering* That goddamn bastard-!
ONARIUS:
> TAPS JOHN ON THE SHOULDER
Your rage is pointless against something far more powerful than you.
JOHN:
> RELAXES AND SIGHS
If I remember correctly, Ned can enter the real world without a digital device, correct?
ONARIUS:
> NODS SLOWLY
Yes, but I plan on making sure that he does not follow you or Elna. I want her to have a life of her own volition.
> LOOSENS UP
This tour, I know, has only affirmed your sentiments against me…
JOHN:
Justifiably so. And I can probably guess the other prisoners have to deal with “you know who”, correct?
ONARIUS:
Yes…
JOHN:
> STARES AT ONARIUS INTENSELY
So, she’ll know of what you did then?
ONARIUS:
She will…she needs to know.
> SITS DOWN AND DISCARD AXE AND SHIELD
*softly* This whole game with Ned and Elna, I’m quite tired of it. Appeasing him to just let her live another day.
JOHN:
> KNEELS BEFORE ONARIUS
This was never about my world, wasn’t it?
ONARIUS:
*softly* It was, as Ellie herself is an asset to Ned; something he needs for something I do not know of. You and I both know this.
JOHN:
> SIGHS
So, you essentially want this to be over then?
ONARIUS:
> NODS AND SIGHS
*softly* I have a lot of guilt over what I have done since I was granted self-awareness 25 years ago. I yearned to help people, something that Ellie did for me. I wanted to return the favor to her because her home life was terrible.
JOHN:
> STARES AT ONARIUS, BLANKLY
Ned though murdered her parents, right?
ONARIUS:
*mumbling* Indirectly...
JOHN:
> RAISES EYEBROW
What do you-?
ONARIUS
> SADDENED
*softly* I wish not to discuss it. But, before she came here, Ellie was bullied mainly because of her odd hair color
JOHN:
> EYES WIDEN
So…The Eldrigital Void did not give her that hair color?
ONARIUS:
> SMIRKS
A rare mutation indicating something Ned wants. Her parents hid Ellie from much of the world, making the excuse that her hair was dyed just so she could go to school.
> LOWERS HEAD
*softly* It worked, until I became self-aware…
JOHN:
Which drew Ned’s attention?
ONARIUS:
> LOOKS AT ELNA IN SILENCE
Yes. I was the reason he learned of her.
> TEARS DROP DOWN
*trembling* I was given a choice as to her future by Ned: bring her into the Eldrigital Void where she would be spared, or see her and your world destroyed. I chose the former, as he showed me what he did to worlds that did not comply with his demands…
JOHN:
> STARES AT ONARIUS SILENTLY
And you still tried to raise her?
ONARIUS:
> STOPS CRYING AND SIGHS
*softly* Failed to. Given my work, it was never going to be so…
JOHN:
> OBSERVES ELNA
*softly* You did keep her safe though, from him. That's some form of success, right?
ONARIUS:
> NODS
*softly* John, Ned most likely knows about this little act of disobedience, and he will do anything to keep Ellie here for his own desires. I do not want that; I want her to be with you, and your significant other. I know you two will raise her better than I did.
> SHAKING
*trembling* I carry the weight of millions of sins behind my back, and the death of her family was one of them. I do not want to squander a chance to give something that was absent from her for so long.
JOHN:
> STARES AT ONARIUS INTENSELY
I’m not doing theatrics, I’m not like the bastard down here, but I will say this: I cannot forgive you for what you have done. The memories of what happened haunted me for years. And what I’ve seen, and what you say, I can never forgive you.
> DEEP SIGH
…But I can forgive you for protecting a child and doing everything to ensure she gets a second chance.
> PLACES HAND ON ONARIUS’S SHOULDER
*gently* I’ll make sure she will be safe, and I’ll get her far away from that bastard.
ONARIUS:
> SMILES AND STANDS UP WITH JOHN
*gently* Thank you.
> GOES TO ELNA AND REMOVES DISRUPTOR CUBE, DIGITIZING IT
Put your sunglasses on.
JOHN:
> DOES AS TOLD
ONARIUS:
> SNAPS FINGERS
[VIDEO FEED SHOWS ELNA MOVING]
{AI TRANSCRIPT MODE DISABLED}
ONARIUS:
> CLASPS JOHN’S SHOULDERS AS HE INTENSELY STARES AT HIM, PUSHING HIS FINGER AGAINST THE SUNGLASSES
Keep these on. The light here is filled with so much data that it can and will corrupt you. Understood?
JOHN:
> NODS {oddly?}
ONARIUS:
> LETS GO OF JOHN AND NODS
Good…good.
ELNA:
> FEVERENTLY LOOKING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN JOHN AND ONARIUS
Were you two talking or-?
JOHN:
> ADJUSTS SUNGLASSES AND CLEARS THROAT {loudly}
Sorry to question, but I never really got a chance to really ask what Elna does besides this? 250 years is a long time.
ELNA:
> SOMEWHAT SURPRISED WHILE INTENSELY STARING AT JOHN
Work.
ONARIUS:
> RAISES EYEBROW
Elna…
ELNA:
> GROANS
A few video games and nature hikes in my realm…When Ned does not have a job for me to do.
JOHN:
> SHAKES HEAD
ELNA:
> PAUSES WHILE BECOMING SADDENED
I really haven’t had that much time to rest to be honest…
> STARES AT ONARIUS
…Neither has he. Ned always wants something, and we constantly have a lot of work to do that takes years to do one thing. This is sort of a bit of rest for us, something we don’t get. And to speak to another human, that only happens every few years for me while Onarius gets to talk to a lot of people.
[ELEVATOR ROOM FREEZES IN SILENCE]
JOHN:
So, he’s a lot like-
> FREEZES AND SMIRKS
Wait, haven’t I already broken the rules? We were talking about Ned and Onarius’s job, right?
ONARIUS:
> SMIRKS AND SILENTLY NODS
ELNA:
> BREAKS OUT LAUGHING
Holy shit! We did break the rules!
> CONTINUES LAUGHING WITH JOHN
ONARIUS:
> SHAKES HEAD AND POINTS TO SUNGLASSES
JOHN:
> CLEARS THROAT
*timidly* Except for taking the sunglasses off, which I was serious about.
ONARIUS:
> CHIMES IN
The rest are not important…
[VIDEO FEED SHOWS A “BUMP” IN MOVEMENT. JOHN AND ELNA BECOME MORE ALERT AS THE ELEVATOR “DOOR” OPENS TO A VERY BRIGHT, WHITE LIGHT {censored again for your protection}]
ONARIUS:
> DEEP SIGH
…We’re here. Where the worst of the worst are held.
> BECKONS DUO TO FOLLOW, WHO FOLLOW IN SUIT
{SKIPPING FOOTAGE…}
[01:46:22.71]
[VIDEO FEED ADJUSTS TO A VERY LONG HALLWAY WARPED LIKE A SPIRAL]
ONARIUS:
> INSPECTS THE BLACK ROPE AND TURNS TO {me}
This, in case you have forgotten, is where you would get lost easily without my assistance.
ELNA:
> EMBARASSED
*mumbling* Don’t remind me…
ONARIUS:
> TURNS TO JOHN
The hallway is more deceiving than it seems. Do not think about it too much; much like the stairs.
JOHN:
> NODS
[CAMERA FEED SHOWS HALLWAY {warping to geometries too headache inducing to describe, even when writing this}]
JOHN:
> OBSERVES NUMEROUS PLAQUES IRREGULARLY PLACED
*mumbling* There aren’t as many plaques as above…
> CURIOUSLY INSPECTS THE PLAQUES FURTHER
Though…this seems larger than the rest of the prison.
ELNA:
> CONCERNED
It’s like that for a reason…
> LOOKS AT ONARIUS
{Should I tell him how big it is? You know, since I last was here about-}
ONARIUS:
{No}
> TURNS TO JOHN
The reason is so that they’ll not find the path back up. Which in itself will take thousands of years to properly navigate. But…because of this level’s geometry, most prisoners would go mad and have their minds fragment. A fate many would not like to end up…
> CLEARS THROAT
But in either case, they are to stay here for eternity, never to escape, never to harm one more soul. For if they were to leave, they would be hell-bent to make all realities a hell worse than Cestranna…
JOHN:
> SUSPICIOUS
Wait, isn’t the goal of the prison to make inmates fragment so that they will not-
ONARIUS:
> PROFUSELY SHAKING HEAD
Not most of those prisoners are down here. The ones here are digital entities, of which it is very dangerous to fragment or destroy them.
JOHN:
> TURNS TO {me}, ALARMED
ELNA:
> SIGHS
Digital entities in terms of data are like a nuke to a firecracker…
> DISGUSTED
…Which I had the unfortunate pleasure of seeing quite a few times.
ONARIUS:
> GLARES AT ELNA
{And that is not for him to know}
> TURNS TO JOHN, CLEARING HIS THROAT
Her analogy is correct, but the circumstances of that are something that Ned does not like us discussing with anyone. Though…some of the things we did resulted in the incarceration of the current inmates of this level.
ELNA:
> DEEP SIGH
They were a pain in the ass…
ONARIUS:
*bellowing* LANGUAGE!
ELNA:
> RETREATS
JOHN:
> SUSPICIOUS
*mumbling* None of the plaques have the names of those I covered…
> SCRATCHES CHIN
Names given to by Ned?
ONARIUS:
> LOOKS AWAY, DISMISSIVELY
Correct.
JOHN:
> SQUINTS AT ONE PLAQUE
Though…that plaque with the name [REDACTED] sounds like that one AI in charge of that rage bait game…
ELNA:
Which it is…
ONARIUS:
> WAVES {me} OFF
*clarifying* Yes, that would be him. [REDACTED] was known to be very violent, and a very egotistical being before he was incarcerated. He was more or less someone who thought his torture of humans was not bad at all, even though it broke the veil…
JOHN: