Review replies:
Some Random Kid: Hey not to be dramatic but id die for you
[Herobrine - Stephanus]: you need to get out.
[Herobrine - Stephanus]: i don't care how, trick him, fight him, whatever you have to do to escape.
[Herobrine - Stephanus]: i can't let him do to you what he did to me.
Steve's only response was a stiff shake of his head. He wouldn't leave without him.
[Herobrine - Stephanus]: he already hates me. there's no hope that he'll let me go.
[Herobrine - Stephanus]: he doesn't know you. take advantage of that.
Steve shook his head again, fixing a scowl on his face before mouthing 'we can beat him'.
[Herobrine - Stephanus]: do you truly think that if I had any hope that we would win this, that i would abandon you to suffer him?
[Herobrine - Stephanus]: i admire your determination, but please just stop. It's not worth it.
Stephanus frowned, then opened his mouth to reply aloud, but Herobrine silenced him with a hand pressed over his mouth.
[Herobrine - Stephanus]: i'm sorry, i'm so sorry that i brought you into this
[Herobrine - Stephanus]: i can't do anything now. i'm sorry
[Herobrine - Stephanus]: please take any chance you have to escape
[Herobrine - Stephanus]: i'm sorry i can't help you anymore
Steve's eyes filled with sorrow and empathy, and he grabbed Herobrine's wrist, pushing it away from his face, trying to speak -
-only for his form to disappear a millisecond later.
[uuuennj227 has joined the lobby]
[f1reb4ll200 has joined the lobby]
[enbnnms055 has joined the lobby]
Herobrine walked stiffly across the small space of his prison, then turned around and walked back. He wasn't sure what his captor wanted him to do, now that he was being observed by the potential buyers, but he knew if he sat in a corner and did nothing that Steve would suffer for it. So, he paced.
Nothing about this proved that he was intelligent, which was what the hacker wanted. Undoubtedly he'd be given some sorts of tests in order to prove himself, he just didn't know the nature of them just yet.
[sk20111]: It can see the chat. It will respond to orders.
[f1reb4ll200]: Interesting.
[f1reb4ll200]: Turn around.
Herobrine turned in a circle.
[wwwd0twww]: Clap twice.
He clapped.
At one time, he would have refused. Sneered at them, attempted to humiliate his captor for trying to show him off like a circus monkey.
Not now. Now, the old, familiar rage no longer bubbled in his chest. He couldn't bring himself to glare, nor bare his teeth at his enemies. One thought continued to bounce around in his skull, repeating over, and over, and over.
Is Steve safe?
He had no reason whatsoever to trust that the hacker would go through with his promise, but he had no power to change it, so his only hope was to cooperate as best as he could. Once again, he was a fallen king, stripped of power and rank and lowered to the darkest dungeons to serve his time.
Only this time, his sentence was eternal.
[f1reb4ll200]: Say something.
[Herobrine]: Very well.
[Herobrine]: What do you want to hear?
That I've been trapped in here for two days, but it might as well be years, or moments, because this is forever? That I'm not the only one suffering as a result of my imbecilic actions?
[f1reb4ll200]: Why do you obey sk20111?
That was easy enough to answer.
[Herobrine]: I have no choice.
[f1reb4ll200]: Elaborate.
Herobrine hesitated. He wasn't sure what he was allowed to reveal.
[Herobrine]: I am a prisoner.
[Herobrine]: I am helpless here.
[Herobrine]: I don't want to be killed.
A reasonable lie, but oh, so false. How he wished that he were dead in this moment, that he had been finished off last time, that Notch never came for him. At least then his actions wouldn't be causing others to suffer.
[f1reb4ll200]: You're afraid for your life, then?
[Herobrine]: Yes.
[f1reb4ll200]: Do you understand your situation?
[Herobrine]: Unfortunately so.
[uuuennj227]: do you believe you'll be killed?
[Herobrine]: No.
[Herobrine]: I believe it will be worse.
The buyers went quiet for a few minutes. Herobrine suspected they were talking to his captor.
[uuuennj227]: are you human?
[Herobrine]: No.
[uuuennj227]: sk20111 claims you're vulnerable to physical harm. Is that true?
[Herobrine]: Yes.
[uuuennj227]: show us.
Herobrine hesitated. Why, and… how? The room had nothing in the way of weapons, it was clean and bare except for the smattering of furniture. After a moment, though, he turned and slammed his fist into the wall as hard as he could.
Pain shot up his arm, and he stepped back with a soft growl as purple bruises began to bloom on his knuckles. He lifted his fist, unsure whether or not they could see.
[f1reb4ll200]: Can you interact with code?
[Herobrine]: If I can get to it.
[f1reb4ll200]: Can you hack?
[Herobrine]: in a sense.
[enbnnms055]: do you need food to survive? water? air?
[Herobrine]: i will not die from lack of it.
[f1reb4ll200]: solve a math problem for us. 2783 x 3677.
Herobrine halted.
[Herobrine]: I'm afraid I'm not that kind of program.
[f1reb4ll200]: Then what kind of program are you?
A broken one.
[Herobrine]: i believe the appeal is that i am humanlike. I have true free will.
[f1reb4ll200]: Is that so?
[Herobrine]: yes.
[f1reb4ll200]: Prove it.
…
[Herobrine]: again, how?
[f1reb4ll200]: How do you think it could be proven? If you are as intelligent as you claim, you'll figure it out.
His heart beat uneasily, and he looked at the floor for a moment.
[Herobrine]: i can do whatever i wish, should it be in my power to do so.
He began to pace, crossing the room again and again.
[Herobrine]: but i am unwilling to draw the ire of my captor.
[f1reb4ll200]: Captor?
[Herobrine]: obviously i did not choose to find myself imprisoned.
[Herobrine]: i would escape if it were possible, but i am not that powerful.
[f1reb4ll200]: I see.
[sk20111]: Do you feel sufficiently introduced?
A brief pause.
[sk20111]: Good. Then, ladies and gentlemen, let the bidding begin.
