Chapter 15: Jailhouse (Un)Lock

I stare at the samurai standing before me, his stoic grimace not giving away much.

"I'm free to go?"

"Not as such," he states, shaking his head. "Rather, consider it a 'work release program.' Where you aid us in dealing with the Яeversed in exchange for your freedom in the future." Fenrir is behind him laughing at this whole thing silently. The guard throws him into his cell on his head.

"That, uh, that sounds a bit like I'd be on or near the frontlines…" I reply, feeling more than a bit nervous.

He nods, "Yes, you'd likely be near both offensive and defensive operations." Well, at least he's not pretending that this is something else...

"Star-vader operations don't exactly tend to respect the enemy's supply lines as non-combatants, moron," my ever-present headache tells me. "'Front' is a bit of a misnomer."

"Piss off, I'm going to be in real and present danger," I snarl, trying to work this over in my head. While helping them would get me in their good books, it would also put me in danger. I can't swing on the same levels as some of these people. After a moment, I ask, "And if I don't agree?"

"Then you will be required to remain in the prison, indefinitely," Bedevere replies. There was no hesitation or care in his voice. Blaster Dark knew what I wanted and how to leverage that...

Sucking in a breath, I answer quickly, "Well, I suppose that answers that. Looking forward to working with you in the future."

"Query: What of myself?" The Colony Maker chimes in, sounding almost scared.

Nodding at that, I look up at him, "Right, what about the Colony Maker?"

"She is of no use to us, it's likely that she will be required to remain here with the dragon," the Samurai shrugs.

"So you're going to make us take up resources to guard low priority targets? Nebula Lord would be making a treatise on the inefficiencies." That actually got a small frown. "The Egoling trusts the idiot for some reason. Don't know what lunacy he fed her, but it's the main reason that you even caught the three of us last time. And as for me… There's no statistical advantage to going back to the Star-vaders at this point. It's simply a stupid move."

Listening to the Gravity Ball Dragon, a frown crosses my mouth, and I reply, "Are you fucking trying to get in on my new gig? You've been nothing but a nuisance and a thorn in my side, as well as the reason as to why the Colony Maker and I were caught."

"And, my expertise would help with predicting the movements of the other Star-vaders," The Cyber Dragon shoots back from his cell. "I know their favourite stratagems, I've actually had to perform simulations against them before so I have more experience than you do, and a bit more importantly, I actually know how to use tactics that aren't 'Run Away in a Straight Line!'"

"I have other tactics and such, you nearly got a facefull of them even, but they just weren't useful most of the time. You're also liable to betray us the instant you have a chance," I parry, really, who does this little shit take me for.

"How much of your head is broken?" he rages. "That is the most asinine, illogical, moronic thing you've said yet… And that is saying something! How in the world a being ruled by emotions such as you came to be in the Link Joker I will never understand!"

"Because fuck you, pay me. I never asked for any of this," I reply, seriously, I just want to go home.

"Then clean out your auditory receptors or ask that Egoling if you don't believe me. I wouldn't, because it would make no logical sense. There is nothing that I can gain by trying to betray you to the Star-vaders."

"How so, it could easily be used by you to leverage a position to actually get back into their good graces," I answer with just as much venom.

"They've already made up their mind about me. And… how do Craians say it… Nothing in Heaven or on Earth could alter that decision at this point."

"And how do you know that? You in contact with them? Is this some sort of concealed collusion on your part?" I ask, considering pushing my head into his cell to stare at him.

"Read access, dumbass. Through the Network. They haven't bothered taking it down just yet, but they did take my Write Access. These are pretty basic things. Another reason you need my help."

"And how would that help me out? Also, I don't know anything about computers beyond how to use one. No programming knowledge here," I reply.

"If you knew about it, you'd know what the Star-vaders already know about you. And that mystery-female you managed to annoy into homicidal rage."

"Okay, I didn't mean to do that. I didn't know that Luquier would go immediately to homicide," I respond, feeling more than a little sheepish. I'd been hoping that I could force her into a breakdown like I did to Vowing…

"My point."

"Not really," I reply, but then look up at the knight. "So, about the Colony Maker, I can take her along, right?"

"I will have to inquire with my superiors on this matter, as to whether or not she would be allowed to accompany you," The samurai answers noncommittally. Even if I can get out of here, I'd rather not abandon the Colony Maker…

"Proof of skill would help your case…"

"Not that yours would, it would probably make us look a lot worse," I shoot back.

"They threw you in here to see if you could 'fix' the Abyss Dragon. Manage it and you'd have an actual bargaining chip."

"Fixing people's hard, and besides, I have no idea as to how to really help him. Яeverse works differently for everyone, after all."

"You know about how Яeverse works?" there was actual interest in his voice. "Chaos Breaker explained the bare minimum about it whenever he is forced to at all, and that is a rare day by default."

I shrug, "It's a weird sort of thing, combining the energies of the Void with a mental breakdown or break. It basically forces people to act in a manner similar, but different to their usual ways, though Raging Form's been a bit of an outlier from what I've seen."

There is a long pause as almost all focus is turned to the scowling Abyssal Dragon listening with his arms crossed over his chest daring someone to say something to his face.

"The issues it uses to cause this breakdown… Examples would be useful again," Blaster Dark's voice chimes in and suddenly I have to wonder how long he's been listening to everything. "I keep telling you that sharing everything can only be helpful."

I throw my hands forward, not that he can see them. "I didn't honestly expect to have to deal with the Яeverses in an intimate capacity-"

"-Oh my! So forward!" Raging Form's eye twitched. "But now here you are, and here the problem is. So…"

I shrug, "Well, in the case of Vowing Sword, it was making him believe that there were traitors hidden amongst the Dragon Empire. For Ethics Buster, it was a matter of reaching a new plateau of strength due to feeling as if he was stuck at his previous one.. It varies, as I said."

"And Our friend here has taken it on himself to portion some of his own magic to silence the whispers so simply asking him would not be an option. But would it be tailored to the individual?" Baster Dark asks. "And if so… Well you claimed knowledge of some of our lore. What would you know of Raging Form?"

"He's a former member of the Royal Paladins, specifically that he used to be a Cosmo Dragon and a dedicated member of the the clan. He was seduced by Phantom Blaster to work with him during his rebellion, and became the Abyss Dragon that he is today, if I recall correctly," I offer with another shrug.

"As could be said of most of the Shadow Paladins. Except for being a dragon, that is a bit rare," Blaster Dark agrees. "We are Revengers because we know that we were misled. And so we will extract the vengeance we can against the enemies of Sanctuary for the Revenge we cannot take upon ourselves. Because in this day and age to stand back and not fight is to harm those who we should be protecting."

"The other part, that I recall, is that he was offered the chance to return to his post in the Royal Paladins, but refused as he thought himself tainted by his deeds," I continue, feeling more than a bit uncomfortable.

"And look at me!" Raging Form snarls, throwing himself forward for the first time in a while, the ire that he was known for blazing in his eyes. "Can you not see that as true! Cosmo Dragon no more am I! And it was by my own hand! Phantom Blaster Dragon might have offered the poisoned apple, but it was my choice alone to partake of it!"

"You made a mistake, trusted someone you shouldn't have, it happens to everyone. Besides, look at you now, you're here working to help everyone and save them from the Star-vaders, even with the Яeverse eating away at you," I swallow the lump in my throat, as I consider my next words. "You made a mistake, and now you're trying to make up for that."

"I will never atone for what I have done. This… I deserve far worse." The Ring began to pulse. "What have I done over these last weeks? Stood vigil over a mouse while my brothers and sisters die or worse to save our lands? How could that ever be penance?"

"I think the Яeverse is eating through his shield! Defect, if you've got something… If that crazy talk means anything, you might want to pull it out now or he'll go nuts!"

"Yeah, you've been doing that, but that doesn't mean your time's been wasted. Would you rather be out there and lose control? Fall into the clutches of Chaos Breaker's manipulations and take the lives of your comrades under them? You're doing what you can to withstand him, but that's no permanent solution," I reply, trying to get through to the dragon.

"Maybe… I just want to be put down like a feral beast... That seems like a fate I deserve."

"Unacceptable," Blaster Dark snaps. "If you feel you haven't atoned, then remember Alfred's condemnation of our rebellion. Our punishment is to live. Or would you try and subvert our king again?"

"Besides all that, are you dumb? Wanting to die, deciding that you're better off dead… It can hurt the people around you so much. I don't know who you consider friends, but look at your allies at least. I'm sure that any number of them have tried to reach out and help you with what's happening to you right now," I swallow heavily, crushing down the image of scarred flesh that appeared in my head.

"Assertion: I would be... saddened if you were terminated."

"The dead help no one. Survival means you can do something even if it's minor."

"You honestly look like you need to break something," Fenrir mentions. "Or get your shit kicked in. One of the two." He smiles. "Break someone that wants to break you, that's something I like to do."

Raging Form curls over in pain, body tense and sweat dripping to the floor. The void energy gets faster, more intense as he begins muttering to himself before there was a half pulse that seemed to be aborted. In the end, the dragon is still laying on the stone tile, conscious but not exactly looking at the top of his game.

Bedevere is the first to approach the fallen dragon. "Are you alright?"

"No," the Abyss Dragon admits. After a minute he adds, "But I don't think I'm getting worse. I can feel it crawling inside me. In every inhalation of breath, every twitch of my body… Every thought in my head. It's there, but I think I can fight it back. I want to try."

"And are you sure of that? You'd be courting death if you slipped even once," Junos advised from where he was standing, his voice soft.

The dragon snorted as he tried to push himself up on shaking limbs. "No matter the reason I give, it can be taken as evidence of my being compromised. But, yes. I am sure."

"Great, so we're a pair of idiots running headlong towards the enemy. But what about the Gravity Ball and my friend?" I ask as I watch the byplay between the two.

"Go decompile your head!"

"Truthfully, I do have to agree with the assessment on the 'Colony Maker,'" Junos said stepping to a place I could see him. "She is unlikely to have ulterior motives and her presence would be a sign of our trust."

"I can confirm that, with the exception of her taste in shirts, she's pretty alright," I interject with a thumbs-up, though I really should have burned that tie dye shirt at some point.

"Of course, that leaves the matter of our other Link Joker captive…" Bedivere muttered, glaring at the Grade One.

Not even bothering to pause, I blurt, "Scrap him, or leave him in the deepest, darkest hole you can find."

The Royal Paladin sighed. "By previous experience if we kill him, his consciousness will transfer to another body that he seems to have stashed all over Sanctuary. Meaning we have to search for and capture him… Again. Leaving him alone for too long a period has resulted in some… Rather inventive suicide methods."

"I believe some of the Dark Irregular spies have been taking notes for new torture ideas!" Junos proudly added with a genuine smile.

"...What if it was Contract Magic?" the Cyber Dragon asked. "That in exchange for being loyal to the moron, both United Sanctuary and Dragon Empire would relinquish their claims for vengeance. Should I act against him, my own magic would tear my soul to shreds."

Blaster Dark whistled. "Someone's desperate."

"There's no mental challenge to be had here. The waste on my time and intellect is worse than anything the dumbass could do. Besides, you know it as well as I do. If you want to keep him alive to deal with the Яeverse, he's going to need someone who knows the battlefield. Someone that also sticks with him long enough that there isn't a rehash every battle as you toss him between Nations and Clans."

"Wait, a moment, Contract magic? This is some new stuff to me. We talking about geis or something?" I ask, looking between the knight and the edge of the Gravity Ball's cell.

"That is not… Inaccurate," Bedevere allowed.

"And is there any penalty for me if the all-star member of the Farquad Star Squad here decides to betray us?" I inquire. Being stuck with the gremlin? Ugh…

"The instant he tried, the agreed condition would fall. In this case, his own magic would destroy him utterly, before he could even complete the act. But if this were to be agreed to, the moment either the United Sanctuary or the Dragon Empire attempted to act against him for his role in the Invasion War, he would be able to do whatever he so pleased. In this case, you are merely a post he is trying to tie himself to. There would be no penalty upon your head," Bedevere said simply.

Looking at the knight blandly, I reply, "Except for the fact that the blame could easily be put on my head for that. It's the fallacy of trusting someone who was an enemy, you guys are taking a leap to trust me, and I'd be taking a leap to trust him. If everything works out, then great, if not, then it's usually the guy in the middle that's gifted the blame."

"We haven't said that we've agreed to it," Junos points out. "Just what would happen if we did."

"…Fair. How hard would it be to find someone to properly mind him though?"

"To this point we have not found one," Bedivere states with a sigh. "We understand so little about the Link Joker that he's managed to weasel out escapes through the strangest of methods."

"Well, I'm game to try this if you guys are, though I'll admit to being wary," I decide, seeing as I'll have to deal with this guy for the foreseeable future.

There's a shared look between the Paladins.

This is gonna be a hell of thing, isn't it?

{~}{~}

Walking out into a different room, rolling my shoulders with the Colony Maker, Gravity Ball, and Raging Form trailing behind me, all I can do is worry.

I'm walking out onto a battlefield.

I've gotten into fights before, but this is the first time where death's been on the table. I'm rather engrossed in my own thoughts, but a throat being cleared snaps me out of them.

Standing before me is a beautiful young woman, clad in a white dress with gold accents, a crownlike head ornament atop her brow, and a pair of pointed ears sticking out of her hair. She smiles warily at me and the others, except for Gravity Ball, as she speaks in melodic tone, "Well know, it seems we'll be working together from now on. I am Ashlei, of the Jewel Knights of the Royal Paladins."

I try and smile, my mouth twisted into a strange not-grimace as I reply, "I'm Trent, nice to meet you."

Why do I keep meeting people who are prime targets?