Xephos had just sat down in one world when he was suddenly forcibly wrenched into another. He glared, not that there was anyone to see, and tried to fight it as his body began to walk about of it's own will, he couldn't resist. He could hear the commands in his head, tiny, snakelike whispers, 'we're going left now... now we're going to fly... here... cobblestone again... testing a new texture pack...'
"What the hell..." He said out loud, again there was no one around that could hear, "It's a texture pack? AND WHY AM I TESTING IT FOR GOD'S SAKE?! I have more important things to do! We never stopped Israphel! Hole Diggers Inc. is nowhere nearing completion! There's too much shit to do-"
'Hm... don't like that. Sandstone?'
"Yes..." He seethed, "Fucking YES, sandstone will look PERFECT for this build." Xephos groaned as this voice commanded his body to do it's bidding.
Once upon a time it had scared him when the world would suddenly change, things would look different, and he'd even change what he look liked on the rare occasion. But that was a long time ago. Now it just annoyed him. The others, Honeydew and Lalna... sometimes they panicked. But him? No. He was the fearless leader, one of the heroes of legend... or that's what he use to be called. He liked to try holding onto it, but sometimes he felt more like a puppet, a slave to this voice in his head. Even though he disliked being a pawn, sometimes in the darkest moments, the moments he feared… sometimes he almost liked it, the ease of going along. He was sometimes quite like Sips, Sjin, Lomadia, and a few of the others, content to do whatever the voices said.
'Oh fuck me... nothing looks right. Maybe a different pack? I think so.' And like that, the voice was gone for a few moments. He knew it would be back, it always came back after a time, why wouldn't it?
He sat down and teared up slightly, it always hurt for the first few moments, then stood and sighed. "Okay Xephos... let's think here. WHY does this happen?" He'd had this conversation a thousand times or more, but it was always nice, kept him sane. "Hm... a trick? No… Even Ridge couldn't pull something like this off. Did I drink a wrong potion at some point-"
The voice was back suddenly. 'ALRIGHT. Let's figure this out. Steven said this new mod was pretty cool... but it doesn't LOOK right... I need to get some good textures... and god dammit I'm getting hungry.'
"Then leave." Xephos spat, "And leave me alone for more than a few days voice!"
'Hm... Ohh yes... I like this one.' His jetpack kicked on and he was up in the air flying again, feeling sick as a dog as he spun in circles, passing over plains. He groaned when the voice forced him past a couple wild beehives. 'Thank god we got rid of the bees... that bit was getting a bit old.'
"Yes... We agree for once voice. The bees were annoying. And painful. And loud. And... and... and a thousand other- oh god why do I bother?!" He sighed and went silent as he was pulled through the world, finally settling down at a mountain.
'We need more ores for the machines, guess I'll dig have to dig manually.'
As he dug, he talked to himself again. "Please notch..." He muttered over and over again, "If you're there... make the voices stop. And tell me what's going on. And... protect my friends please..."
Finally he happened upon a cave, and he gasped. "No way is this-" The voice finished it for him.
'Naturally forming? Noooo... Steven...' The voice busted out laughing, 'What have you built here?'
He didn't fight for once as he moved deeper into the cave, it was lit with Redstone torches at first, but they gradually came to be replaced with Glowstone. Finally he reached a small cavern that was filled with water. Without arguing with the commands, he flew over it to a small island in the center. Landing, Xephos took a look around, finally letting his eyes land on a mirror, jammed into a white stone pillar. Looking at it he noticed that there was markings engraved in the cold rock, walking closer to be able to read them.
Out of the night that covers me,
black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
for my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
my head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears,
looms but the horror of the shade,
and yet the menace of the years
finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
how charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.
He read it out loud, running his hand across the carved script, there was something about these words that brought him comfort. "I am the captain of my soul…" Xephos repeated, chuckling slightly, "Boy would I love that."
Suddenly the voice yelled out, making him clench his head, 'What the- WHAT IS GOING ON?!' Xephos shook his head trying to get the voice out, when he noticed something in the mirror. He stood there frozen in place, staring at the reflection that wasn't of him... it was another man. Paler skin, shorter hair, but similar in color and style, and skinner as well. Xephos frowned in confusion and tilted his head. "Who the fuck are you?"
'W-what? THAT'S... THAT's me in the mirror? The mod maybe… could it be using a camera?'
"YOU'RE the voice in my head?!" Xephos snapped. No reply from the man in the mirror though; he didn't know whether he heard the him or if he just chose to ignore him. He ran his hand through his hair as he continued to look at the reflection. "Why? Why do you torture me?" He whimpered out after a while.
'Okay… this mod. I've had enough of it.' The voice said finally, and then Xephos felt himself slowly being wrenched in the opposite direction, but he was moving slower, as if his bones were filled with concrete now.
"NO WAIT! You didn't answer me! Who are you?!" Xephos screamed out, fighting the commands to leave. His feet scraping the ground as he took his steps, teeth clenched tight as he attempted to take control of his actions. Managing to take a step back, his eyes shot open, "I… did I just…"
'What the- Why is it lagging?!' The voice questioned, 'God I hope I don't have to restart this thing.'
Xephos eyes went wide and his skin paled, "R-restart?" His body started to shake as he remembered the times when this 'restart' happened to him, the feeling of having every muscle cramping up then just total numbness, unable to do anything for however long it took for this process to finish. Normally it was quick, but still a nightmare for him.
'Well, gotta meet up with the guys anyway. Might as well log-off.' With that voice directed a trembling Xephos back to Hole Diggers Inc. Finally leaving him to some peace.
"GAH!" Xephos yelled, collapsing to his knees, holding his head as the sticking started, it did that every time to voice came and went, and he hated it. Panting, he slowly got up and stumbled to the small house, hoping to sleep off this pain. Falling hard onto his bed, he welcomed sleep, but was greeted with an uneasy feeling the whole time, tossing and turning, something felt terribly wrong, and the face of the man behind the voice shadowed his dreams.
