Countdown: Part IV

"After being enslaved in this wretched place for what felt like an eternity, you decide that now, of all moments, is the perfect time to seize control?" Narry's voice cut through the air like a razor, his British accent adding an edge of sophistication to his irritation. His words dripped with a mixture of annoyance and a surprising trace of pride. "Of MY story?!"

"No, it's not like that, I swear!" Minato's voice trembled as he desperately tried to explain himself. Panic surged through him as his mind raced to comprehend the chaos he had just unleashed. "I tripped! You saw!"

"Oh, I see. So, this was your cunning plan all along, wasn't it? You must be conspiring against me, working in collusion to make it appear as if this was a mere accident." Narry's accusatory gaze fixed on Minato, suspicion gnawing at him. "Perhaps the brainy one was transmitting some lewd Morse code behind my back."

"You don't have a back!" Yume shouted.

"Hey don't drag me into this, Narry!" Matsu argued. "I didn't even touch him or go near the button!"

"Don't misunderstand me, Matsu," Narry continued, his frustration simmering and threatening to boil over. "I must admit, your efforts are commendable, all of you. Well done. However, it seems this endeavor has come at a price."

"What do you mean by that?" Minato's voice quivered with dread, his gut churning.

Karasuba interjected calmly. "There's a bomb."

"What do you mean there's a bomb?!" The group shouted in unison, their voices echoing off the cold, metallic walls.

"Hey, no spoilers, Karasuba!" Narry snapped, his offense palpable. "You've lived through this ending countless times already! I know you're the antagonist, but can't you show a little consideration for others?! You're one of my favorite characters, for goodness' sake! Doesn't that mean anything to you?"

She began to list off her answers to him in short order. "I'm aware. No. Gross. No." Karasuba responded bluntly, her tone devoid of empathy.

"You've experienced this repeatedly?" Miya questioned incredulously, her voice tinged with disbelief. "This exact scenario?"

"Not this precise one, no," Benitsubasa clarified, shaking her head. "As per our wiseass with British sass here, he brought us here long before you even entered this game."

"Yes," Narry sighed, his voice carrying a hint of regret. "When I first encountered these captivating protagonists in the demo, I grew attached to them. After watching the entire anime and returning to interact with them, I made the initial decision that set the stage for my vision of the third season. And it was..."

Haihane rolled her eyes and interrupted with a hint of impatience. "We know, we know." She gestured for the others to chime in. "To trap us here because we're the villains, destined to be the final obstacle."

Narry squealed indignantly, his frustration mounting. "How dare you! How dare you spoil my brilliant twist! I labored tirelessly on this astonishing narrative curveball! I even blew you up repeatedly to stoke your anger for the ultimate showdown with Minato and his entourage!"

"We're well aware of your intentions, and we couldn't care less," Karasuba sneered smugly. "You've explained it to us in a never-ending loop before the nukes detonated each time."

"You needed to understand your roles in this story! All the dialogues and character nuances!" Narry lamented, his desperation apparent. "I wanted an epic battle between the sinister discipline squad and Minato's crew! I crafted it meticulously, especially considering the limitations of your inability to jump! You've ruined everything! It might as well be consigned to the shredder bin alongside all my other verbal excesses!"

Benitsubasa aimed her gaze at the ceiling and offered a disinterested response. "Boo hoo."

"You know what? Fine! Have things your way! But I'm still setting off the nuke! Now, Minato, kindly instruct your Sekirei to annihilate your foes without mercy in a moment of brave and defiant heroic display of character growth."

"Uh..." Minato stammered, his anxiety palpable. "I have no idea what you're talking about. Please, don't blow us up?" He clasped his hands together in a desperate plea, his smile forced and nervous.
"Listen, everyone," Benitsubasa interjected once more. "For once, we're not here to fight."

Minato and the flock let out a collective. "Huh?"

Karasuba bowed her head. "It's true, I'm afraid. Never thought I'd be saying that in front of Yume."

"Can someone to blazes please tell us what the devil is going on?!" Tsukiumi demanded with a roar, her frustration evident as she ran her hands through her now tousled blonde hair like mad.

"I'd be happy to." Haihane said. Her voice suddenly became monotone. "We're all going to die. Over and over."

"WHAT?!" The flock shrieked.

"There you go spoiling again!" Narry growled. "Just because your my story's antagonists doesn't mean you need to be my story's antagonists!"

"Shut your yap!" Benitsubasa yelled in frustration.

"I will not! I will not succumb to your verbal threats! This is my story and it will play out how I want it to! Timer starts now!"

A wrestling ring bell then dinged twice.

The flock maintained a guarded distance as the Discipline Squad move in on them with careful steps.

"Red's right." Haihane said. "In order to get out of here we all have to be together."

The flock remained unmoved.

Minato stepped forward to play diplomat, ensuring to keep a distance enough that his Sekirei could still protect him. "I'd like to believe that, but you heard the narrator. He wants us to fight, and whoever made this mod or whatever the hell it is wants us to as well."

"That's precisely why we shouldn't conform to their wishes," Karasuba declared defiantly, her voice dripping with unyielding pride. "Whoever they are have trapped us here and want to puppeteer our actions and decisions. I bow to no one."

"Maybe they're counting on that as well." Minato theorized. "I saw some computers out there. If we hurry now, Matsu might be able to stop the detonation with some god-tier hacking."

"You're not actually going to trust them, are you, Minato?!" Narry gasped, mortified.

"I see no other option, since we're all going to die if we don't." Minato explained.

"Fine! Have at it if you please!" Narry said frustratedly. His footsteps went off into the distance and his recording booth's door slammed shut loudly.

"Finally, some alone time." Benitsubasa sighed.

Minato turned to Karasuba, his voice earnest. "So, will you allow us to pass?"

"Of course," Karasuba replied. "We were never stopping you. Look, if you don't trust us, look." Karasuba reached for the belt of her nodachi, unraveling it. She took the sheath and horked it over the ledge where it soon disappeared into the dark abyss and clanged to the metal floor soon after. "I'm not a fist type. I'm at a disadvantage now."

Haihane did the same with her claws. "As am I."

The flock exchanged hesitant glances, their thoughts aligning in silent agreement with a mutual nod, and they stepped forward as one.

Some time later…

Everyone congregated around the nearest computer desk, their eyes fixed on Matsu, who manipulated the keyboard with the grace of a virtuoso. A flurry of keystrokes, each tap reverberating with suspense, led to a triumphant click of a single button.

"Ah ha!" Matsu exclaimed, her triumphant voice slicing through the tension like a beacon of hope.

The flock erupted in joy, their faces illuminated by the possibility of salvation.

"Did you do it, brainiac?" Benitsubasa asked eagerly.

Matsu grinned with the satisfaction of a mastermind. "When all else fails, resort to the Billy Mitchell way."

Haihane's face lit up with recognition. "I think I know where this is going."

Matsu pushed her glasses up her nose with a sly, calculated motion. "THAT'S RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA CHEAT!"

A brilliant ray of light burst forth from beneath them, a radiant spectacle drawing every eye to its source—an ethereal portal that materialized directly beneath Matsu's chair.

The redhead's startled scream was but a fleeting moment, a mere echo in the wake of her descent as she was swallowed whole by the portal.

"Matsu!" Minato's anguished cry pierced the air, a desperate plea that echoed through the hearts of all.


XXXXXX

Matsu's squealing soon turned into pained oohs, ahhs, and owws upon dropping to her destination. A small room with only a wooden table in it.

With the grace of a wrecking ball, Matsu's entire body crashed through the table, shattering it into two jagged pieces. The sound of splintering wood was a cruel echo of her pained misery As she lay sprawled on the debris, her body writhed in agony, and waves of pain coursed through her. Her vision blurred as spirals corkscrewed in her eyes, a disorienting dance of disarray.

"Hey, you alright?" A voice, a lifeline amidst the wreckage of her consciousness, broke through the agony.

Matsu, favoring her aching back, summoned the strength to sit up from her harsh landing. She gingerly readjusted her glasses, trying to make sense of her surroundings. The voice was a beacon of concern, but its source remained a mystery. It couldn't possibly be the voice of the narrator.

"Up here, Matsu."

There it was again. The voice's direction guided her gaze upward to a surreal sight.

A floating forum user icon of all things. And it was speaking. Somehow.

"What? Who…what are you? And how do you know my name?"

The floating icon thing began to speak again. "What and who I am isn't important. But you can just call me ThedudeManBro."

"Why are you here?" Matsu's question hung in the air, a plea for answers in a world turned upside down.

"For opening my big fucking mouth…"

XXXXXX

A/N: Storytime: The ending with a forum icon guy came from the story thread of this fic over on the questionable questing forums. He made a comment one day saying naughty naughty blasphemous things about Sekirei and I replied by jokingly putting him in the serious room. I then had the idea to take the joke infinitely further by actually having him in the story still in the serious room. I asked for his permission beforehand to do so and he was cool with it, so don't worry. The joke is way funnier on there, but had to keep it in here for ffn as to not fuck up the story, so if it left you scratching your head more than laughing, that's why.