We're really getting into some background on the world around us now. You won't believe what this world has in store. And contrary to popular belief, not everything was caused by Second Impact. Some things are just weird in alternate realities. Disclaimer: I don't own Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Danganronpa, or Skullgirls.
Jojolion Chapter 8: Anti-Skullgirls
"So where should we start looking?," Miss Fortune asked, "If the Skullgirl really is targeting the Medici, we could probably find her by staking out any large-scale operations of theirs." Yasuho held up her phone. "Paisley Park!" Her phone glitched with images of her Stand before returning to normal, albeit cycling through web pages at an alarming rate. Finally she landed on something. "Our best bet seems to be the River King Casino. It's right in the heart of New Meridian, and seems to be a major hangout for the Medici."
"Come to think of it, I've heard of that place," Josefumi noted, "My Grandpa and his old band played a gig there. They were so inspired by the rising kingdom they wrote a whole slew of new tunes, enough for an entire album." "Looks like someone's walking the same beat I am," came a deep, almost synthetic voice. The group turned to see a rather large African-American. He was wearing a large overcoat, but the sleeves were empty. He was wearing some kind of breather mask, and there was a large saxophone coming out of his back.
"Who's the sour note?," Miss Fortune asked. "Sour note, huh?," the man replied, "That's a apt name for my life. But monologues are meant to be internal unless they're on the silver screen, so I'll give you the short version. I'm Ben Birdland, a former cop who got beat down and left for dead by his old squad, who as it turned out was on the take from the Medici Mafia. But I was saved by the Anti-Skullgirl Labs, who remade me as a cyborg. It feels nice to breathe again, even if it through a series of pneumatic machines. The musical instrument theme was my idea. I always did love Jazz. These days I go by the codename... Big Band."
"Old pneumatic systems?," Josefumi noted, "Effective but old-fashioned." "That's the thing," Big Band said, "The Medici, the Skullgirl, and the Anti-Skullgirl Labs all predate the rising of the Canopy Kingdom. These days, the Ant-Skullgirl Labs have been going through some controversies." "I'd imagine," Josefumi said, "I heard they used to be a smaller-scale project for the Speedwagon Foundation, but got cut off due to suspicions from the projects head doctor, Brian Drawn. So what brings you to the River King Casino?"
"Same reason as you, I suspect," Big Band replied, "I overheard you taking about tracking down the Skullgirl. It's no secret she's been specifically targeting the Medici ever since her appearance. Clearly she's got a grudge to settle. It just so happens a major Theonite reaction is centered around the casino." "The heck is Theonite?," Hiyoko asked. "It's a recently discovered mineral," Sonia explained, "Vast ore veins full of the substance have been hidden in the ground for centuries, but they only recently became available due to their presence lighting up in the wake of Second Impact."
"Though there's evidence its unique properties were known as far back as Ancient Egypt," Filia pointed out, "Samson is also made from Theonite, as are all Parasites." "And I've been around since the pyramids at Giza were built," Samson chimed in, "It's also used in Living Weapons. Remember that Cerebella chick's hat? It was such a weapon." "Most important of all," Big Band said, "The Skull Heart seems to be made of the stuff. As such the Skullgirl gives off intense readings."
Inside the casino things looked pretty peaceful. "Y'know," Miss Fortune said, "Even though this casino would be a thief's dream, I've never once set foot in here until now. There's typically nothing but cash and chips for the taking. Good for a quick payday, but my gang's always been more about the rare treasures." "You again?," came a familiar voice, "So, it wasn't enough that you stole from the bosses. But now you just waltz right into one of their major establishments?"
The group turned their heads in the direction of the voice. Sure enough, Cerebella was walking up to them, looking ticked off. "Oh meowvelous...," Miss Fortune muttered, "We're not here for anything this casino has. In fact it doesn't look our prey is here at all, so we were just about to leave. So head on to your precious Vitale or it's hats off to you all over again!" "You really think you can take me without dragon breath helping you?," Cerebella boasted. "I dunno," Ibuki said, "I think I can rock that jam." She and Sonic Youth jammed on their guitars, creating a sound wave that had Cerebella covering her ears.
"Where did that second guitar come from...?," she muttered. "I'd like to know that myself," Big Band said with a grin, "A rougher tune than I'm used to, but everyone has their own beat." Just then, something came in over Big Band's receiver. 'Big Band! Quickly! Lab 8 is under attack!' "Who is that?," Josefumi asked. "Doctor Avian!," Big Band said, "The guy responsible for saving my life! Looks like this whole thing was a setup." "What should we do?,' Sonia asked, "We could potentially lose the Skullgirl's trail, but at the same time it wouldn't feel right leaving these people to their fate."
"Guess we're splitting up again," Josefumi said, "Yasuho, take half our group and continue tracking the Skullgirl. Call us when you've pinpointed her location. As a fellow doctor, I feel obligated to assist." "Got it," Yasuho said. She hurried off with Trixie, Chisa, Peko, Ibuki, and Chiaki. Miss Fortune also went since finding the Skullgirl was her top priority. Once the room was empty, Cerebella sighed. "I almost feel like an afterthought to them. Hope Vitale's new backup gets here soon."
Once the group got there, they found something strange. A second Big Band was standing there, but his eyes were pure white. "So we got ourselves a copycat," Big Band noted. "You're existence is a symbol of humanity's arrogance," the copy said, in a voice that sounded both male and female, "The parts of you that are still organic are living on borrowed time." "Are you saying the jobs of doctors are meaningless?," Josefumi said angrily, "Seems humanity's not the only arrogant one. Allow me to rend that disguise apart. Soft & Wet!"
The copy's eyes widened when it saw the silver humanoid. "A Stand? But I was so careful to avoid them... Have they grown so numerous? It appears my sense of time is starting to fade." "So you can see it," Josefumi noted, "Not that it'll help." The soap bubbles impacted on the copy, causing it to fade into a pile of eldritch flesh. "What on earth did you do to it?," Big Band asked. "I only meant to steal the disguise's cohesion," Josefumi clarified, "Looks like our friend is a shapeshifter. And here I thought this was some sort of illusion."
The eldritch creature rose up. "This power you wield is too strong for me. Perhaps I will leave for now. Know that my name is Double, and that we will meet again." And with that, the creature slithered off. "Double, huh?," Big Band said, "A fitting name for a copycat. Now, let's see what happened around here..." He saw Mikan overlooking the body of Doctor Avian. "Guess it was the doc they were after," Big Band said sadly, "Hope Peacock and the others got out okay." "Is Peacock important?," Sonia asked.
"She used to be just a normal girl named Patricia," Big Band said, "But she was sold into slavery. She's a feisty one though, and wouldn't give in. Her captors decided to make an example out of her by cutting off her limbs and gouging her eyes out. I eventually found her and brought her to Lab 8, where the doc remade her using artificial Parasites, Theonite injections, and the experimental Argus system, which now acts as her eyes. She was also found to be the perfect candidate for the Avery unit, a device that has limited reality warping capabilities."
Mahiru took a picture of the lab. "Since we're investigating what happened, my Stand should give us a clear picture." The picture showed what Big Band already suspected. It was a nurse fighting a girl dressed like a cartoon character. "Looks like Peacock found the place first. And she caught up with the perp. That nurse is Valentine. She used to work for the labs, but it looks like she's thrown her lot in with the Skullgirl. If we hurry, we can find Peacock and the rest of the crew here before anyone else does." Mikan, however, noticed something about Doctor Avian. "He's not actually dead... Just comatose..."
Luckily, the group was able to do find Big Band's friends, spotting Peacock and a few other characters under a local bridge. And Peacock did not seem to be in a good mood. She and Big Band soon got into an argument about going after the Skullgirl and got into a fight, which Big Band won. "Those cartoon antics," Josefumi noted, "It's like watching Aunt Pinkie." "That's the power of the Avery unit," Big Band explained, "It was just supposed to link with Lab 8's arsenal, but Peacock is able to do so much more with it." "You can't keep this toon down," Peacock said, "Oh Tommy!"
A giant weight with limbs and face came swinging in. But the swing got interrupted when Akane literally leapt in. "Down Under!" The massive kick sent Tommy flying and spinning, causing Peacock's jaw to literally drop as she pointed to Tommy's flying form. "Seriously Peacock," Big Band said, "If stuff like this can overwhelm you, you don't stand a chance against the Skullgirl." Peacock sighed. "Fine, fine. Every cartoon needs a straight man in the end. But this is a heck of a lot of extra characters. And that energy Miss Kicks did. What was up that?"
"Oh that's right," Sonia said, "Those with Parasites can see Stands. They may be artificial, but in the end it works the same way." "Stand users, huh?," Peacock said, "I've read about those in the doc's notes when looking up info on the Skullgirl. Gotta know the enemy before you can beat them." "Maybe," Big Band said, "But you've also gotta know yourself. And I don't think you understand what you're fully capable of. Now let's go see if we can't find the Skullgirl."
The group soon found something happening back in New Meridian. A white-haired girl dressed as a maid was holding up a tower with what looked to be a combination of inhuman strength and supernatural energy. Before the group a hologram appeared, some sort of mechanical entity with a very human brain on display in its head. "The Skullgirl has revealed herself." Peacock gasped. "Is that... Marie?" "Someone you know?," Mahiru asked. "Big Band's told you my story, right?," Peacock replied, "Marie was my best friend in those days. I guess she used the Skull Heart to try and take revenge on the Medici Mafia. They were behind the slavers who kidnapped the two of us."
"And what does that make you?," Josefumi asked the hologram. "I am Doctor Brain Drain," the man said, "Director of Anti-Skullgirl Lab Zero. And what we have here is the perfect opportunity to eliminate the Skullgirl while her attention is focused elsewhere." "And have that tower crash on who knows how innocent people?," Sonia noted, "You're clearly as demented as your form would suggest." Brain Drain scoffed. "Those fools at Speedwagon were equally soft-hearted." Josefumi raised an eyebrow. "Hold on... Are you... Brian Drawn?"
"I used to be," Brain Drain admitted, "But I have become much more. Now operating on my brain alone I can perceive things logically." "Just because something is logical doesn't mean it's smart," Big Band pointed out, "Nor is it the right thing to do." "I'd rather not waste words on deaf ears," Brain Drain said dismissively, "Painwheel! Eliminate these pests, then target the Skullgirl!" A young girl dressed in a smock and mask with a giant steel pinwheel on her back came out of the shadows. Instead of immediately following the order, she looked at Filia.
"Filia!," she said, her tone rather guttural, "Filia, it's you, right? It's me... Carol!" "Carol?," Filia asked. Then something flashed through her mind. "Carol! You're alright!" "Finally starting to remember something?,' Samson said with a smile, "At least that's progress." Brain Drain didn't seem so sympathetic. "I'll need to take more direct control." Josefumi, quickly understanding the situation, simply called forth his Stand and struck Painwheel with a few bubbles. Painwheel gasped. "The connection... It's... It's..." "Broken!," Brain Drain finished in complete shock, "But how!?"
"The power of my Stand," Josefumi explained, "Soft & Wet's bubbles can steal things from any solid object they touch. Like the remote signal you implanted in your former puppet." Brain Drain scoffed. "Well, I have another project ready for testing regardless. So long as Painwheel is able to perform her function, I shouldn't have to pull the strings. But make no mistake, I will find a way to repay you for this insult." Filia started trying to get Painwheel's mask off, but Josefumi's bubbles did the job easier.
Filia gasped when she saw the cross scar on Painwheel's face. "Carol, what happened to you?" "After I got kidnapped by those Medici goons," Painwheel explained, "I was rescued by a group called Lost Hope. They brought me to the Anti-Skullgirl Labs. There I was infused with artificial Parasites and some Skullgirl blood. It... Wasn't a pleasant experience." "I'm so sorry...," Filia said. Painwheel confused. "Why would you need to be sorry?"
"I...," Filia said, "I did something horrible to you, didn't I?" "It's not as bad as your making it out to be, kid," Samson said, "You were just concerned that you couldn't keep Carol from getting kidnapped, despite the fact that it was supposed to be your family." Painwheel nodded. "That's right. I nearly forgot your last name's Medici. Well, you and your folks were always better than those mafia goons." She gave a hilariously creepy smile, which got Filia laughing. "Oh my gosh! I just remembered that face you like to make!"
Painwheel looked indignant. "Don't tell you forgot about me." "I forgot a lot of things," Filia explained, "But I think I'm starting to remember." "So what now?," Josefumi said. The Skullgirl had just thrown the tower right into the nearby river. "That tower housed the higher ups of the Medici Mafia," Big Band noted. "Good riddance to bad rubbish," Peacock said dismissively, "Still, I'm a little shocked to find out Marie is the Skullgirl. Not that it'll stop me from stopping her. I mean, once she's done with the Medici, who's next on the chopping block?" "Now that's music to my ears," Big Band said, "Good to hear you talking sense."
Meanwhile, Double was meeting with her masters, Venus and Aeon. "Stand users have been growing more and more numerous," Venus noted, "I suppose after centuries of failure, they would start to crop up around our business." "Perhaps our mother, Lamia, is trying to tell us something," Aeon said, "Maybe it is finally time to put an end to our plan." "If that is the idea," Double said, "Perhaps we could finish this cycle before choosing that route. Though Marie is strong of heart. I find it near impossible to direct her away from the Medici." "Oh, let her wish play out," Venus assured Double, "Once she's done venting, I'm sure she'll listen to everything you have to say." Double nodded. "Very well."
According to Lab Zero, who made the Skullgirls game, the Skull Heart is supposed to reawaken seven years after it is destroyed. So the only way to be rid of it for good is to convince its creators to remove it from this reality. This is what I'm aiming for in this part of the story. It's only way to get a real happy ending. Read and review.