Electric Sheep

Summary: Post-game. After discussing the fate of the failure with Akane, Luna is left in charge of Dio. Eventual Dio/Luna.

Rating: T

Notes: This and the next chapter will probably be Dio-central.

Please, please review! I love reviews. They bring me the deepest amounts of joy.

Disclaimer: I don't own Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward or 999!

Electric Sheep

Chapter 9

Terror.

Complete, utter, unavoidable terror.

Dio was running. Sprinting. From what, he couldn't tell – the beast's breath was hot on the back of his neck, and he wasn't keen on turning his gaze around to figure out his pursuer's identity. His chest burned as he ran, gasps and pants escaping his lips. He didn't know how much more of this full-on running he could take; it tore at his lungs and sent panic streaming through his veins.

The sudden urge to snarl out hit him, but what ended up escaping was a strangled cry. His eyes darted around, seeking out an escape. His surroundings were complete darkness, as if an ebony blanket covered the world. There was a hazy fog around him – the only thing that was not complete black in the area – that smelled sour and clogged up his senses.

What was chasing him? Why was he even running from it? Could he take it? Could he try? What would it take for his legs to stop moving, for his heart to stop pumping wildly; couldn't he just turn around and yell and curse the bastard out?

"Stop it!"

"Leave me alone!"

He had to try. As he tried to halt to a stop, his feet skidded against the ground as if it was covered in ice. Trying desperately to catch his breath, he turned his shaking body towards the predator. To his surprise, however, there was nothing there.

But he could still hear it. Its animalistic growls still sounded nearby, and Dio could sense movement among the fog – as if someone other than himself was maneuvering about it.

"Get the fuck out here and face me!" he yelled, his voice trembling.

Whispers buzzed in his ears, surrounding him and saying things he never wanted to hear from anyone.

("Failure.")

Dio wrenched open his mouth and screamed, all the breath leaving his lungs at once. They just – they wouldn't leave him alone! He didn't even know what was chasing him, or what was now prowling around in the darkness, but he didn't like it.

His heart was pounding against his chest as he spun around and continued to run. He noticed that his clothes were the regular Free the Soul attire; a black and red robe with the infamous insignia emblazoned on the breast.

What was going on? Was he back at base? But he was with Luna just a moment ago, wasn't he? Luna and her fake smile and stupid kindness that was obviously bullshit. Where was she?

"Luna!" he called out, hoping that the melon-haired girl would appear at his side; he needed to see someone familiar. Even if it was her.

No answer.

"Luna!"

He continued to sprint, his cloak melting off his skin and exposing his naked body to whatever was pursuing him. Crouching down, he tried to pick up the robe again, but it was a puddle of black liquid now.

And then he was in his ringmaster outfit once more.

("Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for your one and only ringmaster... Dio!")

The loud, echoing voice made Dio spin around just as the scene around him changed; he was in what looked like a low-lighted circus tent. He could barely see anything around him; there was a spotlight centered on him and the silhouettes of a crowd watching from stands far away. They were clapping and cheering, chanting his name.

("Dio! Dio!")

He wanted to spit at them and growl that he wasn't some cheap entertainment package to ogle, but the announcer interrupted before he had the chance to.

The spotlight moved along the crowd, showing all Left clones sitting in the back and middle rows, as well as the balconies. The very first front row, however, seated the Nonary Game players. Sigma, Phi, Clover, Alice, K, Tenmyouji, Quark, and Luna were all clapping along with the crowd.

("Here he is, the greatest liar to ever live! Also known as Left D-10, heeeere's DIO!")

Dio glared at the crowd as the spotlight shifted to him, the bright light blinding him. With a growl and a curse under his breath, he lifted his arm to block out the shining in his face.

("Dio! Dio! Dio! Liar! Liar! Liar!")

"I'm not a fucking liar!" he hissed at them, clenching his fists tightly. "Stop chanting!"

But the rhythmic words continued. Dio brought his hands up to his ears, their words like the screeches of dying cats.

("Liar! Liar! LIAR!")

"Stop it! Stop it stop it stop it stop it!" he howled, crouching down and digging his nails into the sides of his head in an attempt to cover his ears all the way.

There was a drumroll sounding above the crowd's roars, and a large cage was wheeled towards him. It was a rusty gray color and was about K's size, with a snarling sound coming from the darkness behind the bars. Dio looked around the side to see who was pushing it; of course, it was that fucking rabbit. Zero III hopped his way towards Dio, his form clearly not confined to a computer program and projector anymore. The rodent gave an infuriating giggle as he waved his paw.

"Heeeeeey, B.O.! I brought what ya need! Lettuce get the show on the road!"

Before the blond could wrap his hands around the now-tangible rabbit's little white neck, the cage door swung open. The sheer ferocity of the deep rasping from beyond those bars made Dio take a step back. Clumsily, he tripped over himself and landed on his backside on the ground.

There was nowhere to run. But Dio wasn't scared; he narrowed his eyes towards the shrouded beast, clenching his fists tightly.

"Come get me, you bastard!"

Zero III sprang towards him and landed on his hat, his hind legs pounding down through the hat to push down on Dio's head. The rabbit gave another cackle and danced from his position on top of Dio. The blond swung angrily at the pest, trying to grab him or hit him or something... But the bastard was quick.

"B.O.~ I hop you're prepared for our main event tonight! Is everyone ready to see Dio the Liar take on his sins?"

The crowd roared, the Left clones' expressions sheerly ecstatic. The Nonary Game players each had a distinctly cruel smirk on their faces. It was as if these bastards knew Dio was outmatched, and were enjoying that prospect. Even Luna had a little smile on; it was gentle, not cruel, but she had to be pleasuring in his pain, as well.

A low growl sounded from the cage, and the beast stepped out. It was a lion, clear as day; his roars making Dio flinch against his will. He swallowed hard and staggered to his feet, narrowing his eyes and getting a good look at the cat.

The thing was huge. A thick mane covered its face, large lips held onto something bright in its mouth. Its tail lashed behind it as it flexed its paws, the claws on each toe dripping with crimson. Dio assumed it was blood, but he didn't want to think about it too much; the feline gave another fierce roar, encouraging the crowd's claps and howls.

Zero III giggled, his voice amplified as if through a microphone. Dio brought his hands up and held his ears, trying to block out the cackling.

"Momento mori!" the rabbit cried, facing the crowd from his perch on Dio's hat. "If the nineth lion ate the sun!"

So the beast had a small sun in its mouth. Clever.

More cheers erupted. Though he took a step back, Dio still stood defiantly against the lion facing him. "I'm not afraid of you," Dio snarled at him, his fists shaking at his side. "You can eat the fucking sun out of the sky and I'll still kick your ass! I won't let you get the best of me!"

At the point, the blond wasn't sure who he was talking to. Zero III? The lion? The crowd? Left clones? The Nonary Game players?

Perhaps it was a bit of all of the above.

Zero III leaped off his hat and onto the ground, giggling again.

"Ready, B.O.? Have a nice trick~"

He hopped away, joining the other Nonary Game players as the lion stared Dio down. The small 'sun' (or whatever that thing really was) it had in its mouth dropped lifelessly to the ground, and it began to prowl forward. Man and beast glared at one another for a few seconds before the latter burst into a short run towards the former. The lion's jaws curled into a snarl, revealing razor teeth glistening in the pale circus light. Dio's boots were planted firmly on the ground, but he couldn't deny the way his legs were trembling.

Still, he would not falter.

"Come get me, you fucker!" he yelled at the top of his lungs, spreading his arms out like a barrier. The lion roared again, the noise sending shockwaves of sound through the whole circus. Dio didn't shut his eyes, but he did brace himself for the impact.

("Dio! Dio! Dio!")

The crowd's chants were infuriating, but he tried not to listen. They were getting louder as the lion grew closer, pounding in his ears.

He could see Luna's form from the crowd, wearing a look of pure, twisted pleasure in place of her usual apprehensive expression. It made him sick.

"I'm stronger than this," he murmured under his breath as the massive beast closed in for the kill.

And just as the lion's front paw touched him, it dissolved into darkness. The blond stood, his eyes wide and unblinking, as the creature's black foamy appearance infected the rest of his surroundings. As Dio lifted his hand, he realized that the muck had claimed him, as well; his skin was a sickening black color, producing smoke as if it was on fire.

Dio gazed towards the crowd, and realized they were frozen – like statues, unblinking and unmoving and so eerie. The wild colors of the circus had begun to gray, and eventually darkened as well.

What was happening?

Fuck! He couldn't speak the curse, for the dark shroud smothered him. He fought to breathe, to escape – but the entity was heavy, constricting around him and rendering any chance of sound useless.

But who would hear him, anyway?


Luna's artificial pulse pounded in her ears as she ran out of her room. "Oh no, oh no, oh no..." she murmured to herself as she passed through the main warehouse towards the infirmary, her breath catching in her throat.

How could she have been so foolish?! Letting Dio – a known terrorist and near-murderer – be by himself in a room without sedation...! Though he was handcuffed and the door was locked, she wouldn't be surprised if he managed to find a way to escape. Why was she so naïve?!

If Ms. Kurashiki was hurt, or if Dio had hurt himself – it would be all her fault. She would have broken one of the Laws of Robotics, if not all three at the same time. The possibilities of who screamed, and why, raced through her mind.

Dio could have stabbed himself in the chest again. He could have drowned himself in a shower, or... slit his wrists somehow...

Or... perhaps Ms. Kurashiki was lying dead somewhere. Dio's Myrmidon knife could be sticking out of her chest. The thought sent shivers down Luna's spine, making her stop for a moment to calm herself down.

Her panic just grew worse as she realized the possibility that Dr. Klim was also dead; albeit slim, the chance of that happening caused tears to spring to her eyes.

"No...! No, that can't..." Luna was panting, her artificial breathing wearing her out. How long was it from her room to the infirmary!? It seemed so much further when there was an emergency. Pushing herself, she continued on her way, terrified beyond belief of all the possible outcomes that scream had entailed.


("Dio! Dio! Dio!")

The crowd's cries still sounded, even long after their still forms disappeared completely into the blackness. Dio closed his eyes (not that it made much difference in the dark) and tried to block out the sound. Much to his dismay, that seemed to make the roars louder, the sounds echoing and pulsing through him like a stereo system.

("'Dio'...?")

A chilling voice broke through the chants, smooth and quiet as it seemed to wrap itself around Dio's senses. He supposed if the voice had a color, it would be an icy blue – and if a physical form, the thin shape of a snake.

But the voice was just that – a voice. It wasn't recognizable, nor was it soothing or inviting. Dio didn't want to hear it anymore, but it wasn't overpowering like the yelling of the crowd. It was a quieter cruelty, whispering evil into his ear like the serpent from the fruit tree in that familiar parable.

("That's not even your name.")

The blond nodded, opening his eyes and trying to look around for the source of the voice. No luck. Everything was dark, and most of his senses were seized by this voice, anyway. All the same, he tried to justify himself.

"But it's... it's from D-10," he murmured, surprised at his own voice's softness. "I... wanted a name to call my own." He had taken that name from his number, and it wasn't very creative, but it was his. No one else could claim to be Dio – at least, not around him. No one in the facility had a name. He was the only one that gave himself one.

("Your name is Left.")

"I know!" Dio howled, shaking his head. "But I just... sometimes I want to be Dio!"

Was that fair? Could he actually want to be himself, not just another clone? Was that allowed? No, no way that was allowed in Free the Soul. Hadn't he just had a little breakdown about this in the shower? Dio knew he had to fight those urges. It was just like the time with that woman. He had fallen to his urges then, but he was a fighter – he wouldn't be bested by shit like individuality.

What a concept. What a joke.

("Why do you lie to yourself?")

"I'm not lying!" Dio's voice was desperate, and cracked at the end. It wasn't a lie! He wasn't lying! He wasn't a liar – at least, not to Free the Soul!

("They weren't wrong. 'Dio the Liar' fits you quite well.")

No! That was all wrong! Everything was wrong here! First being chased by n"Who the fuck are you!? Get out here and say that to my face!"

Furious, Dio lashed out blindly. He hit nothing, of course, not even feeling the air his swipe had stormed up.

("You cannot be Dio. You are Left.")

"Fuck off!" Dio hissed, stomping down his boot. Strangely, there was no echo – though he felt his foot collide with some sort of surface.

The outburst caused a backlash of sorts – the voice got louder and more straining on his ears.

("Do you deny it? Are you not one clone of many?")

"I am," Dio replied. "I never said I wasn't."

("That is all you are, then. A copy.")

"No!" Dio screamed, bringing his hands – which he couldn't even see in the pitch black surroundings – up to his ears in an attempt to block out the sound.

("Not even an efficient copy. You're useless.")

Dio lashed out more, getting angrier. "No, I'm not! I'll show you how fucking useless I am!"

("Brother has many more copies. Many more clones that can do better than you.")

"No!"

("Sinner. Liar.")

"Fucking stop! I'll kill you!"

("You want to kill me? I'm right here, Left.")

A corner of the darkness lit up.

He noticed it instantly, but eyed it with caution, taking a few steps towards the small pool of light. It revealed a... curtain-like thing that didn't seem to have an end or beginning on its bottom or top. But it did have an opening in the center – a tiny slit that implied the curtain could be pulled apart.

("Right behind this slit. Yes, open it!")

Dio didn't need prompting. But he did have to take a deep breath before placing his hands on the fabric and ripping it open.

He couldn't believe what he saw.


Luna couldn't believe what she found in the room.

It wasn't a dead Akane, or Dr. Klim, or Dio – it wasn't a corpse at all.

Dio's wrist was still chained to the bed, and he apparently hadn't moved from his spot. But he wasn't sleeping – at least, not peacefully.

His eyes were closed, flicking back and forth underneath the lids, and his face glistened with sweat. His breath came in and out in ragged pants, and his whole face was scrunched together in an expression of agony.

And what was worse – he was screaming. His body was immobilized by the handcuffs, but he was still yelling his lungs out on the bed, his head whipping back and forth violently.

"No, no, no!"

Luna had never seen him like this. Granted, she'd only seen Dio asleep a couple instances, but this was just horrifying. He wasn't anywhere near a terrorist murderer in this state; no, here he was vulnerable, weak, and frightened.

Tears trickles down his closed eyes, staining his cheeks. It made Luna's artificial heart wrench for him; despite herself, she took a cautious step forward. He didn't even notice her movement, and continued to thrash.

She noticed that his wound had reopened from his movements, the blood seeping through the bandages on his chest.

He looked to be in a lot of pain, and not just physical. It hurt Luna to see him there, lying in his blood with tears pouring out of his eyes. This wasn't Dio – not the man she knew, at least.

"Stop!"

Was he dreaming? It seemed that way; he seemed deeply asleep – enough to hiss out incoherent phrases and not notice his own injury reopening. Should she wake him? Could she even do it? What if it just hurt him more?

Luna, admittedly, had very little experience with nightmares. When Kyle had them as a child, she had tried to console him, but he never wanted her by his side. As he grew older, the nightmares continued, and Kyle requested Akane personally instead of Luna. She had tried to watch what the old woman did to calm the child, but she was often ushered out of the room.

If Luna was useless to of the child she was built to take care of, how could she help this man, laying and suffering, now? She couldn't.

But she had to try. The alternate was unthinkable. Slowly, she stepped towards him and reached for his hand.

"Dio. Dio, wake up. Please."


It was a mirror.

A fucking mirror.

The voice had said he was behind the curtain, but this was the only thing here. What did that mean?

Who was that voice? Was it Dio himself? His inner thoughts and insecurities?

No, that couldn't be right. It made no sense. Dio was strong – he had said so back in that circus. He had faced scorn and even a fucking lion head-on with no fear.

It had to be some Left clone. Some other blond looking through a glass window. That was it – it had to be. Dio wanted to yell at the pathetic-looking clone.

But as he touched the surface, the copy mirrored his actions. Dio looked closer at the clone; he looked pale, his hair unbraided and a tangled mess. His eyes were sunken in, his lips cracked and dry, and he was once more naked. He could only see his chest, which bore a horrible, oozing wound.

But Dio had hurt himself there – that couldn't be another Left, could it?

His heart sunk as he stared into the glass, willing the other to blink out of sync with him, or breathe in a different pattern, or something that proved he was something different.

"Please," he begged the other. "Please, don't be me. Please."

Left just mimicked his words, at the exact same time. Dio sucked in a shaky breath, refusing to break down in front of this man, whoever he was. It had to be Left. It wasn't Dio.

But what was the difference, really?

They were all the same, in the end.

Still, without warning, the clone in the glass spoke without Dio prompting him to. And his voice wasn't Dio's, but the icy, whispering voice from before. Dio thought he'd be relieved at that, but the words just sent a paralyzing chill down his spine.

("How can you protect the world from sin when you yourself are a sin?")

("DIO!")


"Dio!" Luna was trembling herself now, pushing on Dio's collarbone to prod him awake. Tears were falling down her cheeks – almost as fast as Dio's were trickling down his – as she tried her hardest to rouse him.

Nothing was working, and he was getting worse. His wound was nearly hemorrhaging blood, and he was lashing out. Even with one limb secured, his other arm and his legs were free to swing about, knocking over some medical supplies nearby.

"Dio, please!" the melon-haired girl begged. "Please, wake up! It's just a nightmare! It isn't real!" What was she saying? Dio wasn't able to hear her, surely? But it was the only thing she could think of.

She shook him further, not liking the look of pure pain on his face.

"No! Get the fuck away!" he cried, cringing as if in pain. Perhaps he could feel the wound after all? His face was draining of color, fast, and Luna began to fear the worst.

But finally, after what felt like decades sitting there with the suffering man, Luna saw his eyes snap open. She had to blink a few times to make sure it had really happened, and sat back a bit to not frighten him further. He tried his best to sit up, the pain preventing him from doing so all the way. He struggled to a half-sitting position, looking over at the GAULEM with pure terror laced in his gaze.

"Dio...?" she whispered, noticing she was still holding his hand. But she wouldn't let go – not until she knew he was safe (or if he pushed her off).

He looked shaken, his teal eyes wide and unblinking. So small, so vulnerable. His breathing was still heavy, and Luna could guess that his heart was still racing.

For some reason, her mind wandered for a moment. She thought of his terrified state, and how he wouldn't want anyone to know. Perhaps she was so overwhelmed in this situation that she thought of other things.

But he definitely would be angry later if he found out this whole scene had been recorded. Glancing up at the ceiling, she called, "Lagomorph? Please cease recording of the infirmary, and erase all footage of the past hour."

She had authority over Lagomorph, at least. The rabbit's voice sounded over the speakers. "Youuu got it, Moony!"

"Thank you."

She brought her gaze down and noticed Dio was still staring at her, most likely still coming back to reality. His breathing was a bit more even now, and his eyes weren't quite as glazed over.

"Dio, are you okay?" she asked quietly, giving his hand a squeeze. He looked down at their conjoined hands, but surprisingly didn't say or do anything to stop it.

In fact, she swore she felt his hand squeeze hers back.

"Luna," he murmured, his voice like gravel. It occurred to the GAULEM that she should have brought a glass of water, but there hadn't been time.

Her tone was quiet, in an attempt to relax him. "You had a nightmare. But it's okay. You're okay." She wasn't sure if the words were getting through to him, but the 'motherly' phrases were programmed into her core. It was all she could say, really.

It took a few more minutes of them sitting there, in the dark room, for Dio to finally regain his senses. He still looked exhausted, but was definitely more conscious of his surroundings.

That look of fear was still evident on his face, however.

"Dio, do you need anything?"

The blond shook his head, dragging his tired eyes up to hers. His cheeks were still stained with tears. Luna found herself at a loss for words.

That is, until Dio spoke again.

"T... tell me about those fucking bluebirds," he whispered.

"W...what?" Did he really say that? She hadn't ever heard his voice so quiet.

He shifted slightly, wincing at his wound. Luna realized that she would need to take care of that, but it would be better if he wasn't conscious for it. Perhaps if he were to go back to sleep...

"Please." Dio's raspy voice interrupted her thoughts. It seemed he wasn't fully aware of everything just yet. But it was very early hours of the morning – 2 or 3 am, Luna would guess if she kept close track of the time. "Please, tell me about those damn bluebirds."

Well, he asked, so she would oblige. She didn't mind, really; it was a nice story. Dr. Klim read to her once, and she never forgot.

"It's called 'The Blue Bird' by Maeterlinck."

Luna took a deep breath, clutched her bluebird necklace with her free hand tightly, and began.

"On Christmas Eve, a pair of siblings, Tyltyl and Mytyl, are asked to find a bluebird by this old woman. They travel to a dream world in search of the bird... Catching this bird brings a person much happiness; they are granted a wish.

But no matter how hard they try, Tyltyl and Mytyl can't find the bird. Defeated, they return home empty-handed. But when they awaken the next morning, there's a bird in a birdcage in their hut.

It's a simple story, but it teaches a very important lesson... Happiness is closer than you think."

Luna always thought that the person who gave her this necklace – Dr. Klim himself – was trying to say that her happiness was closer than she thought, as well. That was why she always wore the necklace, as a sort of good-luck charm.

Still, there was another version of the story. She continued.

"But... in Maeterlinck's original story, the story doesn't end with them waking up. When Tyltyl and Mytyl try to feed the bird, it leaves the cage and flies away. That was the original ending to the story. And now, since the story's ending has changed, the moral has changed, as well...

Now the message is that just when you think you've found happiness, you'll lose it again."

As she told the story, Dio's eyes grew more and more dull, and his eyelids drooped. He seemed to be nodding off, not listening very much to the story. But that was okay – whatever he needed to get back to sleep. Hopefully he wouldn't have anymore nightmares, though Luna planned on giving him Soporil once he was fully asleep again, if only so she could rewrap his wound.

"I believe that happiness is something you should always be looking for. And it's only when you're pursuing happiness that you're truly happy."

His eyes shut and he sighed deeply, his breath falling into steady rhythms shortly after. His hand went limp in her grasp. It was clear he had gone back to sleep, but she kept whispering to him even long after.

"But no matter what, Dio... Please, don't give up. Look for your happiness, and don't let those nightmares consume you."