Chapter description: Aldurra is jumped and imprisoned for the crime of... Being an Alex. But soon enough, he learns the reason.

Tags for this chapter:

Demon Anatomy, Tranquilizer Darts, Imprisonment, past Casualties, bargaining via a Casserole

02. Another Alex

Aldurra didn't know what to expect as he crossed the threshold, but it probably wasn't the reception he immediately garnered. It was quick, methodical, how he was apprehended. And it came to an end before he could process it all.

When he awoke again, he was still out of sorts, only barely managing to count two… Three… Four tranquilizer darts embedded in his chest. He'd long since utilized a minorly alternative variant of his natural form, in the way where it hid the digestive cavity. So, those little shits went straight into his bloodstream.

Then again, to most outsiders, his body left a lot to be desired.

He was in a cell, encased with what looked like glass, but Aldurra was sure it was something more tough than that. The room it was in could only be described as a laboratory, possibly underground. Aside from the various machines, he was alone.

Once he was able to discern his new whereabouts, he busied himself in plucking the darts out with his feet. Why not put those otherwise worthless arms to use by turning the scythes into hands? That's going too far.

"Why do you look like that?" That sounded familiar. Yet, there was no sign of arrival.

Aldurra, with absolutely no grace at all, whirled 180 degrees. There was a man, temperature as cool as the area. But his appearance only feigned that of a human. Loopy from the drugs, the demon replied, "Billy…? I haven't seen one of you in ages! Or… How long have I been out?"

Arms crossed, the well-made robot's gaze remained stern. "If you answer my questions, I will yours."

"Yeech," Aldurra cringed, "You're a serious one. Alright, I'll bite."

"I reiterate: Why do you look like that?"

"Ah, well. I made a promise to him, to relinquish his form, even his name. The whole thing's pretty personal, so I'll spare you the details." He paused, before noticing the slight inquisitive change in Billy's expression. A follow-up question he knew was coming. "My real one is Â̶͎l̵̗͑d̴̲͒ū̷ͅṛ̵̎r̴̯͠a̸̙̐."

It was spoken with several layers of sounds - whispers, hisses, clicks, huffs, distortion. There was a twitch, as the other tried to process it. "I cannot recreate that."

"I didn't think you would," The demon couldn't help giggling. "In your languages, 'Aldurra' would do nicely." Phonetically, this time it was much more simple.

"Aldurra," Billy mimicked, technically correctly, but it sounded odd coming from him, "Understood. How did you find this place?" Oh, he must mean the Webspace.

"The same way everyone else does, I'm assuming. Just wander the Internet until you find a big, honking sign that says, 'Welcome, all Baldi's Basics fangames!'" Aldurra hummed thoughtfully after the bit of dramatization. "And I thought, 'Maybe I should go there.'"

"What was your motivation?" Billy was just chaining these inquiries, wasn't he? The demon's face began to turn uncomfortable, but for a reason unrelated to the interrogating nature of the conversation.

"That… Coincides with question one, a bit. The long and short of it is, I was hoping to reunite with…" He looked for the best phrase to use, then gave up for the sake of simplicity. "My ensemble. If there was anywhere they ended up, it'd probably be here."

This time, the robot remained silent, thinking most likely. Aldurra was poking at the 'glass' in boredom when Billy spoke again. "Eight hours. That's how long you've been unconscious."

Immediately following, he turned away, walking to an elevator, possibly the way he came. This sudden shift caused Aldurra to try getting up and follow, immediately ramming into the wall of his cell. Goddamnit, and just seconds ago, he knew it was there! How strong were those sedatives?!

"Ow, FUCK-! Where're you going? You're just gonna leave me here?!" He called out, feeling a headache starting to come on immediately.

"Yes, that's the idea." The robot tapped buttons next to the doors.

"Now you listen here!" The demon rose his voice, "You said you'd answer MY questions after you were done with yours!"

"Then you should ask fast." So cold! The doors opened, and Billy stepped inside.

"Don't you guys have some kinda judicial system? Don't I have a right to a lawyer? Don't I get a trial BEFORE I get locked up in…" As the robot pressed another button from inside, Aldurra glanced around frantically, desperately trying to get his thoughts in order. Finally, he settled with, "Mad scientist jail?!"

The doors began to close, but Billy kept them open. Looking right at the demon, he appeared to consider his next words. But what came out was chilling all the same.

"We've heard a story like that before, from someone like you. And we aren't so inclined to believe it. Not again."

"AGAIN?" An unholy screech choked out of the demon. "You mean to tell me that another Â̶͎l̵̗͑d̴̲͒ū̷ͅṛ̵̎r̴̯͠a̸̙̐ has been here?! What happened?! I demand you tell me!" There was a pause, as he heaved from a sudden new mixture of emotions.

"Casualties." Billy let go of the doors, and they slid shut, separating the both of them from view.

But Aldurra was sure he would've been able to hear how he limply plummeted back on the cell's floor. "No. He couldn't have…" The whimper of denial. The growl of indignation. And finally, the bellow of righteous fury. "THAT BASTARD!" Among further, graphic obscenities.

On a floor several stories below, Alex grinned ear-to-ear at one of the five Billys stationed around his 'abode'. He'd heard him slip up amidst the silence.

"Oh, what good news," He chortled, with the clap of his hands. "Another Alex has joined the fray! You should let me go see him. Give him a proper welcome." No response. He slid up against the transparent wall, almost leaning on the robotic clone. More quietly, he bargained, "I'll bake him a casserole!" Still no dice.

Eyes squinting, his impish expression didn't falter as he pulled away. "Man, you're no fun. How're we supposed to be maintaining this roommate relationship situation when I'm the only one who's trying? Are you this socially comatose around… Dave?"

Try as the Billys might, Alex saw the movement. The way their hands clenched, albeit in a brief lapse of anger.

"Good God, finally! A reaction!"

More info:

- Apparently one of the Daves is friends with Billy
- Actually they go way back

- Â̶͎l̵̗͑d̴̲͒ū̷ͅṛ̵̎r̴̯͠a̸̙̐ (Aldurra) has been searching for his other characters for months
- He is not nearly as powerful as Alex