"Dirk?"
A couple moments pause.
"Dirk!" Tavros yelled into his communicator.
Still no answer. The live feed from Dirk's sunglasses had gotten some liquid onto them, covering the screen, and he could make out nothing. His heart seemed to clench itself, as he feared the worst. He didn't want to believe it, but the way things have been going, it looks like he's lost two more friends. The pain ate away at him as he stared at the spot where the vital signs would have been on screen. His jaw clenched, and he took a minute to compose himself. "John, are you still with Nepeta and Equius?" he asked in a monotone voice into his communicator.
"Yeah.. Judging by the question, I'm guessing the vital monitors blew up or something, am I right?"
"Y.. Yes." he answered.
A sigh came from the other end. "I thought as much. I believe it was caused by the microbug that was on Equius being destroyed. Is that something that can happen?" John asked, slightly shakily.
Tavros's eyes widened as his mind processed this. "Well... Yes, I think so, but that is utterly impossible." he answered back.
"These guys... Things... Whatever attacked us.. I saw one of them pick something off of their body."
"But.. Not, these bugs are only for one host, and it shouldn't be removable, unless.." his voice trailed off.
"Yeah.. His chest was pierced, and I guess this guy sensed it, or something, I don't know... But nothing is impossible anymore.."
Silence filled the air, and Tavros was able to catch Nepeta's heart-wrenching wails, making his hand tighten over the communicator.
"Tavros.. were we.. in over our... heads?" Jake's voice came in from the communicator.
"Jake, where's Dirk?"
"Were we... dumb to try this?... Did we.. think things through enough?.." Jakes raspy, pain filled voice continued.
"John, get to them now." Tavros said, "Jake, hang in there, man."
A short laugh, then a coughing fit was heard. "It's.. too late.." Jake continued, his words slowly fading.
Tavros's body was numb by this point, it was a surprise he was still holding the communicator.
...
John almost couldn't handle what he was hearing. He had tears running down his face. He couldn't convince Nepeta to go with him, so he told her he'd be right back. Now, he was heading to the location he saw Dirk run to. Reaching the roof of the building he knew Jake was stationed at, he had this overwhelming sense of fear and nausea. He rounded the last corner of the stairwell and walked through an open door onto the roof.
The first thing he saw was blinding light, making him stop so his eyes could adjust. Then he picked up faint figures lying on the ground. His heart thumped more and more as he approached. He braced himself for what he thought he was going to see. He had to look away once his eyes adjusted and he could see the scene clearly. His nausea reached a whole new level. He looked back to it, and pressed a button on the side of his glasses to open the live feed Tavros had installed. Dirk was lying facedown, a puddle of blood surrounding his head, matting his hair to the ground. It was clear Jake had crawled over to him, as his sniper rifle lay near the edge of the building, and there was a trail of blood leading from that spot to where he was now, next to dirk, his hand in a now dead grip on Dirk's.
...
Tavros slightly jumped as another live feed came in, this time from John. He almost forgot he installed a live feed camera onto an item of everybody's. His heart felt like it was being ripped out as the scene was laid out before him. He stared at the shaky screen for a few minutes. Slapping himself hard, he shook his head and pushed his feelings aside. "John, get back to Nepeta. Get her and yourself out of there, now."
"On it.." John replied, in a low voice.
The feed shut off, and Tavros sat there, debating whether he should order a full retreat for those who survived. "We've come so far, though..." he whispered harshly.
His mind raced over actions. He didn't know the state of Gamzee, and he guessed Karkat was probably on the verge of death, if not already over. "Vriska, are you still at the top?" he asked, his head pounding.
"Yeah, Dave's with me now. He said Gamzee and Karkat had gone ahead to do their part to finish the mission. I'm worried though, I have this feeling.." she trailed off.
"Yeah, me too.. Listen, I need you and Dave to get in there and check out the scene. If it seems hopeless, I need you to get those two and get the hell out immediately." he replied.
"They'll be alright, have a little faith." Dave said from Vriska's channel.
"Things are looking very badly for everyone. I may have to order a retreat from those who.." he stopped himself.
"...Survived?" a voice boomed from the communicator.
"What the hell?" Dave said, clearly now.
Tavros looked at the communicator's screen and saw that all channels were open. "You fools have lost, can you not see? More than half of your petty little group have been obliterated. There is no hope. But by all means keep trying, this isn't half as boring as I thought it was going to be. Your death cries and mourns are simple.. exquisite." the voice said that last word like it hungered.
Tavros broke out in a cold sweat. "Dave, now, go check." he said evenly.
"On it."
"That's right, young mortals, fight until every last one of you is destroyed! Hahaha!" the voice said. it's laugh fading now.
"John? Are you there?"
"Yeah, but I can't find Nepeta. I'm searching." he said hurriedly.
"Nepeta, where the hell are you?" Tavros asked.
No answer.
...
"Stay here in case Nepeta tries to get by." Dave told Vriska.
"Fine." she said with a huff.
Dave nodded, then sprinted back into the room. Those guys that helped them out weren't there anymore, and neither were their foes. Doing a quick scan over he rand to the corridor that Gamzee and Karkat had gone last time he saw them. There was a closed door at the end of it, and he could hear clashes and thuds from where he was. Hurrying over, the sounds became less frequent. He tried opening the door when he came upon it, but it wouldn't budge. His anxiety levels rose tremendously, and he started to ram his shoulder into the door, trying to force it open.
"Get back here!" he could here from behind him. His instincts on point, he ducked as Nepeta crashed into the door, shattering it. Time felt slow, and Dave swore he had complete control over his actions, as he rolled out of the way.
Waiting for the scene to be over, he jumped over Nepeta, who was lying in the rubble of the door, dazed. He noticed blood all over the place. It wasn't a lot, but it was spread out. Then he noticed Karkat at the opposite end of the room, trying to stand. Looking over to where Karkat sat, he saw a bloodied Gamzee being held up by the neck if this foe. Dave felt an immensely dark aura radiating from this guy, and also Gamzee, who now had three elongated scars running across his face. He froze in place, only being able to stare.
Hearing Nepeta screech, he quickly regained his senses and rushed towards this guy, who he presumed was Jack. Looking around the room, he noticed a crushed communicator. He thought that this guy was the one who was talking earlier. It felt like he ran into a wall, then was swept off his feet, hitting the roof, almost going through it. Coughing a bit of blood he fell to the ground, dazed. Gamzee was tossed aside, and Nepeta's leg had been crushed from her reckless ramming of the door. Karkat was still lying against the wall.
Dave felt his consciousness fading in and out as he tried to raise his head to get a good look at the one who would probably be his demise.