Rabbid Guy (FFN)

by Silverwingsdragon

Worked into perpetual exhaustion at his new job, it was only a matter of time before Guy's delirious self got into an truly bizarre accident. By day, he's an ordinary man only trying to make a living, but by night he turns into his rabbid self to let loose and really live. If only his human persona remembered any of it. Cover by PuzzledDonkey !

11. At The Door

His heart had gone back to a reasonable beat. He checked his arms. They were just the same as last night. He started to check the rest of himself. A fuzzy face, cute mitten hands, long expressive ears, a big old mouth to shout with. His mouth was pretty big wasn't it? Besides his ears it was the only thing bigger on him as a rabbid than a human. He walked up to his mirror on the basement door to make faces.

He didn't open his mouth all the way often. It kind of reminded him of something like a hippo. He didn't often have a clear mirror to look at himself with so he was glad he had a little time to look into this one. After being a confused and paranoid human all day it was nice to be charmed by the fact that he currently had the body of a rabbid. No other person understood what it was like to see through the eyes of a completely different species. To look into a reflection and not see a human looking back but something else.

In a lot of ways he was lucky, but it was starting to dawn on him how many problems he was going to have based on what his human self had figured out. Doug was stuck in traffic now but he was bound to reach Guy's house eventually, and then the next couple of nights for two weeks. How was Guy supposed to keep him from finding out? If Doug figured it out he was bound to tattle to his human self, or maybe worse, Doug would tell his boss and Guy would be put in a lab and stripped of his rights for being too rabbid.

He was the first and perhaps only human rabbid. Pioneers didn't exactly have a safety net when met with opposition, especially from humans. If humans knew what he was, the world would change. If a human could be a rabbid then what was the difference between the two? Guy knew there was a difference but it was too abstract to define. Still, they had more things in common than most humans gave rabbids credit for. If people were forced to see rabbids as more like themselves because of him, a lot of them would probably want him dead. Especially verminators.

He supposed that made it even more important to keep his secret. Keep the drama to a minimum. If only he didn't shift back and forth. Before he was questioning whether or not he wanted to be a rabbid forever, but with the conflict his human half was causing it was becoming easier to wish he'd survive after dawn.

There was nothing left for him as a human. Ok, well he still wanted his parents and old friends to know he was ok. They wouldn't like what he had become but he wanted them to know he was safe and happy anyway. There was a present he could say goodbye to as a human, but no future. He wanted to move on and discover all the ways he could be more adventurous, more playful, learn more about the people he loved so much, but his human half was keeping him tethered to the twelve hours he had to experience each night.

Eventually he'd be limited in how far he could travel. What were rabbids like around the world? If Guy wanted to keep himself a secret, he'd never know. His human self didn't have much of a reason to travel besides visiting family. That would definitely be a challenge, but if he pulled it off he could see how rabbids were like around his parents house. A surprise visit from Manmade for all those rabbids. Would their friends believe they saw him? He smiled at the thought. He wondered where all the robot combat rabbids were. What was their meta like?

A better question would be to ask where Tie and Stickers were. They were normally pretty punctual in making sure Guy had a smooth transformation. He didn't need them to always be there immediately after becoming a rabbid. He was grateful for everything they had already done, and they had their own lives to live even if being alone made him.. lonely. Maybe they were on their way. Maybe they had even caused the traffic jam that saved him from Doug, although that would be an incredible feat given the information available to them.

Maybe they were watching him all day, playing a snare drum as some sort of prank. Stickers had suggested Tie and themself watch Guy together. Maybe they had their own rabbids vs human adventure that would put everything into perspective soon enough.

He hoped it would also explain what Tie was doing with a syringe in his room. He had been acting strange on the Raging Radial, but he didn't intend on drugging Guy or taking his blood, did he? Something was clearly wrong. Guy hoped it wasn't something that would break his trust with the young rabbid. His nights wouldn't nearly be as fun without him.

The lights flickered. Guy waited for them to go out but they didn't. The wind rocked the house a little. What was he supposed to do if Tie and Stickers didn't come get him? Could he go out on his own?

He dragged a chair over to his window to take a peek outside. It was raining, the wind whipping the drops around. He couldn't see any rabbids. Was there a chance word got out that a verminator was on his way? Were people expecting Guy to leave and come find them? He couldn't read minds, how was he supposed to know to do that? Did he even remember the way to the Junkard?

It didn't feel natural to leave on his own. His friends protected him, guided him. He wasn't safe if he went out by himself. He'd probably talk to the wrong rabbids or get captured or fall into a hole he couldn't get out of and die turning back into his human self in the small space.

His ears twitched at a new sound. He listened. He wasn't sure before, but he could hear the drum beat approaching clearly now. He looked around the window but couldn't see where it was coming from. That was a common theme with the drummer. Every time he looked he couldn't see them. If it was getting closer eventually he'd be able to see it right? Unless it stopped, but it hadn't yet. The sound got closer.

So close it was as if it was coming from everywhere before settling at his door. The drumming turned itself into knocking seamlessly, as if the two sounds were the same all along.

It unnerved him but it was bound to be the point. If this was Tie and Stickers who had been following him all day, why not spook him by knocking the door like this? At least if it wasn't his friends it wasn't Doug or any human. The knock was from too close to the floor, and no dedicated human would follow him with a drum all day. Guy walked up to the door. He couldn't look through the peephole at this height, not that he would see anything through it if he did.

"Hello?!" Guy asked. He put his ear to the door. There was no response. Alright, that was enough. He just wanted to see if it was his friends. He backed up to jump and unlock the door. He missed it the first time, but got it the second. He then jumped up to twist the knob. He hung from it, hoping it would start to swing. Just a little bit, it did. He jumped off and opened the door a crack to see who it was.

It was not Stickers or Tie, although either of them could wear this, but he didn't think they would. The rabbid on the other side's face was concealed by a metal helmet with a mesh faceplate that was reinforced with metal bars. The sides of the helmet had horns curling up, although the right horn had broken off. The top of the helmet was a crest red like a roman soldier's, and it was long and bushy, flowing down to his shoulders. Meeting it was his thick red cape that was like a pelt an old norsemen would wear. Under his cape was a segmented breastplate over his toga. A belt wrapped around his waist hung a scabbard. A sword inside.

The stranger's breathing pattern stammered, sometimes letting a squeak leave his mouth instead of a breath. It took Guy a while to understand that the rabbid at his door was softly crying. Besides his chest and audible whimpers his body was still and firm. A stance like a statue come to life.

"..Uh, can I help you?" Guy mumbled.
"I'm looking for someone.. Someone they call the manmade rabbid.." the rabbid said. He sniffled.
"Oh, well I don't think he's here.. Maybe he's in the Junkard? Do you know.. where that is?" Guy asked. The rabbid didn't say anything, "Um.. So, It's basically in that direction. There's a lot of forest but just keep going and you'll find it; have a nice night."

Guy shut the door but it didn't close all the way. He looked down to see that the rabbid had put his foot in the door to stop it. He couldn't see the rabbid's eyes through the mesh but he could tell the rabbid was staring right at him.

"...You think you can ignore me?" He asked.
"What do you want?" Guy asked more directly.
"I want to show you something," the rabbid put a hand on the door. He opened it, effortlessly pushing Guy out of the way.
".. Hey, I don't think you understand.. I'm not the rabbid you're looking for, so you'd be wasting your time showing me something," Guy said. He was trying to act brave but all of his senses were screaming that he was in danger. He was alone and this rabbid was strong. Hopefully it was just an act.

"What do you think you will gain by trying to push me away?" the rabbid said.
"I'm I..I-I don't know..I just don't want any trouble, ok?" Guy said. He didn't even know this rabbid.
"You can try to ignore me, outrun me, but I will always find you again. There is no place away from me but through. If not today, then on the last day," He said. His hand flexed over the hilt of his sword.
"What?" Guy asked.

The rabbid stood in his living room. He looked away and whimpered.
"What.. What do you love the most about your home Manmade? Tell me.. What do you love most about your home?"
"My..? My bedroom? I guess..? I got a pretty cool PC," Guy stuttered.
"No, no, your HOME Manmade. The soil and rock. The mountains and valleys, forests and mystery. The sun, the sea, the clouds, the wind. The birds, the beasts, the men, women, people.."
He seemed to reach for what he was describing, as if he saw their ghosts in front of him.
"Uh.. I guess.. I guess I like the people the most.. P-people are cool?"
"A good answer.. A very good answer," He nodded slowly. He looked down and sobbed just a little louder, shaking his head.

".. Are you ok?" Guy asked. For once he pitied the rabbid somewhat.
"It just... makes me sad to think about all the things that I will miss when they are no more," The rabbid said.
"Hey, it's not going anywhere anytime soon.. No need to worry about it now," Guy said, walking a little closer to him. He hoped the rabbid didn't intend to do something to destroy those things, if destroying all that was possible.

"Yes..yes, no need to worry.. It's not today.." He seemed a little relieved, lifting his head again, "Do you often remind yourself to live in the present, Manmade?"
"I try not to worry about things I can't control. Doesn't always work, but I try," Guy said.
"What about things you can control..?"
"I guess I'll try and do what I can then.."

The rabbid paused, still staring. He stood straight, regaining his statue-like stance. Guy took a step back.

"You.. You are the only one who plays both sides. Two worlds of a whole Earth. An entire war within one being. A person who can cross over and survive. Maybe even a person who can take information with him to those who need to know why I am here. But for now, nobody knows the potential. What is Manmade really made of? What will he do when I return? When I return in the form of electric shocks, frozen bodies and gunshots, spilled blood, explosions and slander? If you continue to stay as both rabbid and man, you will soon be accustomed to this, I believe, accustomed to seeing me. Maybe you will die creating me, or maybe you will cleanse me. Cleanse me even when the world is covered in filth," The rabbid said, "I do not claim to know the future, Manmade, but I have seen it time and time again: The conflict between rabbids and their neighbors will always end in untold catastrophe. There are already symptoms. The last day could be in less than ten years, or a billion, but someday things will be very, very different from how they are now. And in those days we will all be begging for more time with what we love. Time we can create now. Treat our symptoms. Keep our home. Protect our rabbids.

That's why I'm here. I want to know if you can help. I want to know if you can help my rabbids. I need to know what you will do when you see symptoms. When you see my brothers. What will you do when our rabbids are in danger? Because I will never leave for good, only come back worse: just as I have before, and will do again until my work is done. But my work is never done, because people create me. One day, maybe people will be better.. Maybe.." He trailed off, thinking. Guy paused, waiting for him to go on. He didn't.

"Wait so-? You think something bad will happen in the future because humans and rabbids don't get along..? And-and you think I can help with that?"
"There is no perfect representation, only perfect dedication," He said.
"Gotcha, uh, but how would I even know what to do or look for? I know you probably think I'm something I'm not because of the transformations I go through, but besides all that I'm really not that skilled or strong.. For the most part I'm just a rabbid like everyone else," Guy said.
"Everyone has always been as everyone else, yet the world yearns for understanding," He said.

"That's great.. Er, could you let me think about it and I'll get back to you?" Guy said.
The rabbid paused.
"You don't have a very good idea of who I am, do you?"
"I-I don't think we've met..no?" Guy said. He felt like he almost knew. He looked over at the rabbid's outfit again. Something definitely stuck out to him, "Oh no.." Guy took a step back, "You're the Red Rabbid aren't you!? Sorry, not 'oh no'.. I'm sure you're cool, sorry.."

"My name is Mars," In one swift motion he pulled his sword out of his scabbard. It was small but the blade glowed as if it was made out of red light. Guy stared at it. It looked more like a special effect than anything he'd seen in the real world, "Here in my hand, are all the games, sunrises, long talks, laughter, all the peace as it is forcefully taken from you, as they will try to do to my rabbids, as they will try to do to you. As they have done for longer than there was color, and will keep doing long until color fades. There is no way out but through!"

Mars started to walk toward Guy with intention.
"Woah, what are you doing..?" Guy backed up, "Stop! Wh- I didn't do anything wrong!"
"I beg you. I have cried for too long," Mars said. Mars started to move faster, causing Guy to evade even more. He was a rabbid, but the way Mars acted seemed to suggest getting hit could actually hurt him. Maybe even kill him.

He was running out of room, backing himself into the wall. He tried to escape and run past Mars, but Mars grabbed his shirt collar. The rabbid lifted him up by it. Guy put his arms up, falling out of his shirt and out of Mars' grasp. He got up and tried to run, but Mars launched and thrust the sword straight through his back.

It happened so fast. Guy couldn't even gasp.
It burned into every part of him. His muscles spasmed tight and strain, their fibers feeling ever so close to snapping right off the bone. The feeling only grew in intensity, unable to be defined. Sizzling his senses hotter and louder.

It was as if a lighting bolt had been shot down into him, determined to rip him apart from every cellular connection. Every nuanced nerve. It reminded him of how this all started. All other feelings overwhelmed him in panic. He had to keep himself alive. Hoping that he wasn't already too late. That this might be the last thing he felt.

Mars slid his sword out of Guy's back. Guy collapsed. He gasped for breath, trying to pick himself up to run. He touched his chest. The sword had gone right through him but he still remained intact, well except his underwear. It was the only thing that was evidence of the attack, which fell off him in shreds. Mars went for a second swipe, stabbing Guy again. The electric hell returned even more explosive. He couldn't take a second more. Every fraction of time overwhelmed him far more than he thought he could experience. Mars pulled his sword out of Guy's back again. He felt weakness drawing him toward the ground but an ocean of adrenaline picked him back up.

Facing the door he didn't even think, he just had to go. Guy stumbled away from Mars into a run up to the door. He threw it open and escaped to his yard. Turning back only briefly he could see Mars patiently following. He had to keep going. Where was he running to? It was hard to see in the rain. He couldn't get lost now, he had to make it to the Junkard. Find out where Stickers and Tie were so they could help him. He knew the way generally. He had to find it. Every second he swore he could feel Mars' about to grab his shoulder.

After making some distance he turned around, his throat burning as he gasped for breath. He got nauseous spotting him.

Mars was under a street light amongst suburban homes only a block away, his sword glowing through the rain. The Red Rabbid was looking right at him, focused and following at a steady pace. Guy turned around and continued as fast as he could, but his sprints were starting to shorten.

How was he supposed to outrun this rabbid forever? He was already so tired. That sword. It burned his eyes just looking back at it. It wasn't like any other weapon he knew to exist. This was clearly beyond his understanding, essentially supernatural. He couldn't rule out the possibility that it was made to kill rabbids. If he got too tired he could die tonight. There was so much he had wanted to see. So much rabbid left to be. He wished he could stop.

Had he done something to deserve this? From what he understood before, Mars seemed to want a reaction out of him that would help him and help other rabbids. He could hardly think of what that meant. His terror pushed him to the ends of his ability and far from his rational mind.

Getting to a new level of exhaustion again, Guy looked back. He didn't see Mars this time. He sat down on the curb to catch his breath. He couldn't stop heaving, coughing when he inhaled too much rain. He was bound to have little time before he'd see the rabbid again. If Guy exhausted himself completely he'd be doomed, as much as he wanted to get as far as he could.
He was getting close to the shopping center where he saw Jeremy and his friends. It wasn't far off from the Junkard then. All he'd have to do was go through the center and into the woods. He held his chest. He could almost feel the sting. The echo of pain buzzing. He quivered, holding his chest tighter to quiet it. He thought he heard something. Maybe drums. He had to keep moving.

In one of his neighbor's backyards he spotted rabbid ears and babble on the move. Getting closer he recognized them. The gangsters from the rabbid west. Rustler, Big Hat and Fuzzy. They were carrying with them each a pillowcase full of something Guy couldn't see. Maybe jars of something.

Their ears twitched as they got closer.
"Hey don't tattle on us now! Keep to your own BEESWAX!" Rustler said, pointing at Guy with his plunger gun as they passed.
Guy winced, weakly putting his hands up.
"That'll do stranger," Rustler said.
"Str-? Rustler it's Guy!" Guy said, lowering his arms.
"Oh shoot really? Why didn't you say so!? Sorry feller didn't mean to get all TRIGGER HAPPY on ya! We spent all night gathering quite a bounty. Didn't want it TAKEN ya know? How's it been? You look terrible! And naked! Huhu!" Rustler said. His gang chuckled with him.

"Fuzzy heard that everyone thinks Guy really is a human," Fuzzy said, "Is this true?"
"Yes, but that's not important right now! Can you protect me?! The Red Rabbid is after me!" Guy said. He checked behind him. Was it drums?

Fuzzy and Big Hat looked at each other before trying to run away. Rustler caught them by their collars before they could get anywhere.

"Say that again," Rustler said.
"The Red Rabbid is after me.. Please! What do I do!?" Guy cried. He turned to look again. There were definitely drums in the distance.
"You have to do what he says, is what you gotta do," Rustler said.
"But he didn't say to do anything! He-he- he said he wanted to show me something and that he wanted my help with something! Can't you do something!?" Guy said.

"Shoo..." Rustler whipped his head up in disbelief. Fuzzy and Big Hat were visibly uncomfortable,
"RUSTLER! Please! I don't have a lot of time!" Guy said.
"He said he wanted YOUR HELP? That's like a tornado asking a tree for help!"
"W-what does that mean then!? What do I have to do!? Is he gonna kill me!?" Guy asked.
"That's the Green Rabbid partner, not the Red one. You didn't see no Green Rabbid right?"
"No?!"
"Good."

The drum was getting louder. The rabbids' fur stuck on end.
One after another they all spotted him.
Mars with his sword and its remarkable glow reflecting in the rain.

The rabbids scattered, dropping their bounty. Guy tried to follow Rustler, struggling with how tired he already was. The outlaw aimed for a forested lot in between houses. He slid down a steep hill into bushes, and then through them into a solid narrow gap in the ground made of cement. Inside the gap was a small cave that's floor was attached to a sewer. They climbed down into the sewer to stand and catch their breath.

"I can't believe it! You're sorely SCREWED, you weirdo!" Rustler panted.
"Yeah I get that!" Guy barked. Being hunted was putting him on edge, "Why are we in here?!"
"I was hoping he didn't see us," Rustler said.

Mars stood from the cave up above and shook his head.
Guy and Rustler snapped into another mad dash down the sewer. It got harder to see the farther they got from moonlight. Mars catching up faster than they could. Just before he reached them Rustler turned and took out his plunger gun and shot. Mars cut the projectile with his sword, deflecting it. He pounced on Rustler, grabbing him and stabbing him straight through his chest. He shouted and spasmed until Mars pulled his sword out. Rustler collapsed.

In one swift motion Mars draped his cape over Rustler, and then snapped it off of him, revealing nobody there. It was like a sadistic magic trick. Rustler was gone, vanished. Guy kept looking to try and find him, but no matter where he looked Rustler wasn't there.

Eye contact from Mars broke his paralysis. Guy turned and ran again. The further he went down the sewer the darker it got. The only light coming from Mars' sword. He couldn't see his next move. He tried to go quickly, but he kept tripping on debris and bumping into walls. All the while Mars continued at his steady pace. Guy stumbled into a room tall and deep. It looked over rapids from the gathering rain below, and above moonlight seeped in enough for him to see the foam of the rushing water. He went around the railing and realized he had walked himself into a dead end.

Mars blocked the entrance.
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM?!" Guy screamed and shivered, essentially trapped.
"He is with me now. Taken from you by my hand," Mars said. He walked up to Guy. Guy scrambled to get out of the way but with how close Mars was to him it didn't take much effort. Mars stabbed him in the chest and held it there. When he finally slipped the blade out Guy fainted. He fell over the railing and into the flowing water below.

The shock of the cold reawakened his senses. He was being pushed down a narrow lightness tunnel by fast moving water with hardly any air at the top. He tried to grab hold of the walls he was slipping past but any grip he got he was torn off of by the flow of the water.
Now there was only one realization striking him now: This was exactly the type of thing that got rabbids trapped for good. If the pipe got any smaller he'd be stuck. The water could even squeeze him into a smaller space so much he might never escape no matter if the water was flowing or not. He could already imagine realizing it was going to happen to him. Realizing there was nothing he could do. He had to do something while he was still loose.

Guy caught his hand in a hole in the wall and finally stopped himself amongst the water. There was light above him. He could see it briefly through the water wall striking his face. He tried pulling himself up toward it. For a terrifying moment he almost slipped and lost his grip. He slowed down, taking a break before trying again. He pulled himself up to the top where the light was coming from. Seeing it better, he realized the light was coming from a drain cover. With one hand stuck in the wall and his feet keeping him pinned on the other walls, he used one hand to push the drain cover open. He then carefully held onto the opening with one hand while unsticking his other. He got both hands on the cover opening and pulled himself out and onto dry land.

He laid on the floor catching his breath. He could almost cry. He had escaped that and didn't have to face the horrors he had imagined. He looked up at where he was. It was a small tunnel lit up by industrial lights. Supports sectioned it like a mineshaft. It was a little too small for humans, or maybe he was just looking at it from where he was. He sat up to get a better look. The floor tiles were gray and hexagonal, the walls cement: brutalist in style. The hall was lined with doors going to unseen rooms. He didn't hear drums, but he knew it would only be a matter of time before Mars would find him here.

Based on the running water he could tell which direction he came from, but it was a dead end that way. With no choice but to go further in, he checked out the room closest to him. The door didn't have a knob. Maybe it had been condemned, but the door next to it was the same. He didn't want to press it, but there was a button next to the door with an image of a rabbid palm on it, also confirming Guy's suspicion that this place was built for rabbids, most likely by rabbids. Hopefully nobody would mind him activating it.

He put his palm on the button and just as he predicted, the door slid open. He hopped over the threshold into a dark room. From the hall light he could see it was cluttered with bins. Not a great start to find a closet. He moved on.

The next room had lights and looked like a rabbid sized break room with tables, chairs, a counter, a printer, and stolen refrigerators and microwaves. Some of it was rather dusty, but not as much as he expected. Were rabbids still using the place? The lights were on.

The architecture was like no quality he had seen from rabbids so far. Rabbids usually made their homes out of recycled scrap from humans. This structure seemed completely original and was scary professional. If somebody told him he was inside a spaceship or a submarine he'd find it a reasonable assumption.

A large door made of glass looking into a much larger space was ahead of him now. This one opened automatically when he walked up to it.

The room was huge, and mostly empty besides some sort of towering structures lying against the walls. They were like some sort of robotic legs. Guy followed them up to the ceiling.

Meeting his gaze were giant eyes and perfect smiles staring down at him. Guy yelped and fell, covering the back of his head. After a moment nothing happened. He peeked back up. The stares were coming from the three gigantic robots. Each one a sort of circle headed smiling cyclops with bunny ears and two towering legs. They were too tall so they were bent and leaning by the ceiling like giants in a shrinking room.

Trying not to get too dizzy staring at them, Guy got back up. They didn't seem to be active. At that moment there was nothing more terrifying than if they moved. He waited, still low to the ground, waiting for them to blink, but they didn't. He nearly crawled out of the room, keeping himself small while also moving quickly.
The door across the room slid open, letting him into an even larger warehouse. On towers of pallet shelving were rusting machines stacked on machines. Some looked like flying saucers, some were smaller and had legs. Almost all of them dented or in pieces.

What exactly was he seeing? How big was this place? Who knew if he could even get out of here? To be as large as it was meant Guy had been pushed far deeper underground than he initially imagined. To see all of these numerous and complicated rooms and robots was spinning his imagination south. This wasn't like the rabbids he knew.

Something unseen fell from a high shelf deep in the warehouse making a clatter. Guy stopped. He turned around. The sound bounced off the walls but instead of diminishing, got louder and faster, transforming into the familiar drum. He covered his ears. The sound became physical like a real drum. It was coming from the rooms Guy had been in previously. He had to run. Follow any path upward.

He ran through the warehouse and several more broken down rooms, the sound fading as he got farther, until finally he went through a door to a brighter hall. He ran into rabbids.

"Woah! Sorry!" Guy backed up. The rabbid had a spiked bat and fake scars drawn on his face.
Another rabbid down the hall began running up to him with a plunger rifle. Guy tried to run but the rabbid with the bat blocked his path. Guy turned around.
"I.D PLEASE! I need some I.D!" the rabbid with the gun barked.
"Ah! No? What!? I don't have any ID!" Guy said cowering, putting his hands up. The rabbid grabbed his wrists and put him in handcuffs.

Guy looked the way he came. Was it drums or just an echo? Where was it coming from?

"You're under arrest for trespassing!" the rabbid handcuffing him had brown hair in a bun and a black uniform with a bandelier across her body and pilot goggles on her head. There were other rabbids with similar outfits and various weapons and tech attachments nearby, watching the scene.

"W-where are we going? Can I leave?..." Guy asked. She didn't say anything. There were rabbids eating and playing games with sharp objects in a cafeteria and listening in on a presentation in a theater next door, but it was visible from the amount of empty space that this wasn't nearly as populated as the Raging Radical or Junkard. No matter how impressive the architecture was, it was in disrepair rusting away, seats left unfilled. For the amount of room to play in it was surprising the whole rabbid community wasn't down there. All these rabbids were few and of the same type. Their fur matted and sweat soaked. Their expressions unreadable.

Guy was shoved into a small room with a table in the center. The rabbid escorting him locked the door. Guarding it, she took a radio off her bandelier and spoke into it.

"Punch, I just captured a trespasser, we're currently in interrogation room F," she said. She waited for a response.
"I'm sorry for trespassing, Ok! I don't mean you guys any trouble! Please! If you know how to leave, I would love to do that.. really soon, really really soon!" Guy said. He listened for drums. He couldn't tell what was real from clatter.

"How did you get in here?" The rabbid guard asked.
Guy didn't hear her.
"HEY!" She snapped her 'fingers', "How did you get in?"
Guy jumped, focusing on her.
"Oh.. Oh.. a storm drain! The water was strong, it-it- The current pushed me down here!" Guy said. He stood at the opposite side of the room. As much as it would be helpful to look put together right now, every single behavior he was displaying screamed vulnerability. Without anyone to comfort him all he had left was his own arms to hold himself. He didn't want to let go even if it made him look like a shivering wet dog. His ears swiveled to pick up drums.

"Do you know where you are?"
"No. Look, I'm being chased. I just needed to get away, but I didn't mean to get stuck here! He followed me here!" Guy said.
"Whoever's following you can't get past us. Are you new?"
"Are you a hundred percent sure?" Guy asked.
"Focus. How old are you?"
"I don't know how that's relevant!" Guy said.
"No, no, that's not how this works," She shook her finger and head, "How. Old. Are. You?"

Guy didn't say anything. He wanted to think of a lie but there was no way he could pretend he was three years old or two hundred fifty. Anything close to his age would essentially give her what she wanted. He caved.

"Twenty eight.." Guy said.
"Ah so, you're from the Glade?" She asked.
"Er..Y-Yeah, but not a lot.. I mean, not for very long.." Guy said.

What an idiot! When Guy was born there weren't any rabbids on Earth. A rabbid his age had to have lived on the Glade. How could he pretend he was from a completely different planet? Dimension? Universe? Nobody had clarified for him how far and what the Glade was. It was probably just a far off planet somewhere, but if magic existed who knew, "I'm more of an Earthling type rabbid. Hardly remember the Glade.."

"I see.." She said.
"Opera.." the rabbid's radio blared.
"I'm listening.." Opera responded.
"I'm coming over.. Don't move."

Opera positioned herself next to the door. She seemed to reset, staring straight ahead without any visible emotion. Only a minute or so afterward the door opened. Behind it was a rabbid with short unkempt brown hair with sideburns, a deep green and black cargo shirt that was covered with chain mail on its left side, seemingly for style. His pants had chainmail sewn on the opposite side in a similar fashion. He carried a sort of tech backpack with an antenna sticking out of it.

"Get me up to date Opera," He was chewing gum.
"Aye, Punch. Says he's being chased, maybe by a powerful rabbid. Got sucked down here through a storm drain running away. Doesn't know where he is. He's originally from the Glade but doesn't remember much about it. Twenty eight years old," Opera said.
"Is that so?" The newest rabbid, Punch said. The two of them were staring at him,

"Who is chasing you?"
Guy hesitated.
"The Red Rabbid.."
"So what? I'm not scared of him.. What boogierabbid is really after you or could you not think of anything scarier?"
"I'm telling the TRUTH!" Guy said.
"We'll see.. Hey, Do you remember why we came to Earth? From the Glade, do you remember?"
"No.."
Punch seemed to smile for only a second.
"Ok. Are you a tullerian or antihero?"
"Uh..." Guy was blanking on their meanings.
"Hellooo? Tullerian or antihero," Punch asked again.
"I'm not an antihero.." Guy at least knew that.

"So you're a tullerian. Ok, we-" Punch gestured to himself and Opera, "-We are antiheroes. Understand? Now I don't know what you've heard about us, but we came here from the Glade so people wouldn't GET us, ok? People were mad and they wanted to GET us," Punch was starting to sound condescending, walking into Guy's personal space, "Same thing here, not as bad but the people on this planet want to GET you. We antiheroes won't let that happen. We will get them first. Kill them before they can figure out a way to kill us, because we all know that in their hearts they want to get rid of us, or, or worse, control us. I'm sure you've seen as much already. See how they treat you, treat us. You can't trust humans right? They capture rabbids and put them in freezers, right? That's just what they do because they can't kill the inevitable. You understand?"

"I.. I.." Guy was transfixed on the rabbid's face, but the more he looked the more he began to realize there was something unsettling about Punch's head.

There were wounds on his forehead. Perfectly circular wounds only a little smaller than a penny, staining his fur with blood around their edges. Being perfect circles was odd enough, but looking more there was something even stranger about them.

Light shone through them. Not because there was a light inside his head, no. The wounds went all the way through. When the light shone inside Guy got a glance of exposed gray matter, or at least he thought. As soon as he saw bright red he looked away. There were a lot more perfectly cut holes on Punch than Guy realized. Some through his head or neck, some through his ear, some through his arm right next to the bone.

"Oh..?" Punch realized what Guy was staring at, "Don't be scared. A little hole punch never hurt anybody.. Well, maybe not humans. It kills them!" He chuckled. Opera chuckled with him.
"Did humans do that.. to you?" There might be new things to worry about after all.
"Humans? No, no. They don't have the tech. Bloodsuckers started it, but this one's all me. Me! Do you want one? I can give you one," the topic seemed to excite him.

Guy never shook his head harder.

"Aw come on! It's ok, it all grows back, well, except this one," He pointed to three different sized holes in the top left of his head near his hairline. They weren't bloody. He wasn't wearing a wig, "This is the original. They gave me this one. It won't heal because it's where they hooked me up.. Bloodsuckers did. They GOT me and they punched my head. Bam! Punched my head so they could go inside, make me quiet.. act funny, do what they wanted. If you want a punch it'll make the quiet really loud. Used to be the loudest thing I could remember... Don't worry. I wouldn't make you quiet.. Not unless you're more trouble than it's worth. You're not trouble, right? You wouldn't be better off quiet? I don't like having to resort to bloodsucker stuff. I don't need to go inside your head to get information right?"

"I'm no trouble. Not a single one.." Guy said. He thought he heard something. Something with a rhythm.
"Then why are you lying about your age? About why you're here!?" Punch said.
"I'm not lying!" He didn't mean to be loud.
"Then why did you come to Earth!?" A drop of blood ran down his face from a hole. He wiped it away with a hand.
"I don't know! B-bloodsuckers?"

"There are no bloodsuckers in the Glade! Why!? Why!? You just don't get it! Those humans are gonna GET you! We're the only ones who can help! If somebody sent you here to spy or you just wandered in, that can help us! You can help us! We need your information! We are all going to get GOT! Everyone! Everyone! We need this planet! There's nothing like it! It's the humans that'll ruin it if we lose this war!.." Punch hit the table in the room and paused and took a breath, rubbing his head.

Guy focused. He could definitely hear the drum thrumming. It was only a matter of time at this point.
"Sir..Have you considered this rabbid might be Manmade?" Opera said.
"I haven't.." Punch said.
"I'm NOT Manmade," Guy said.
"Urg this again!" Punch snapped, "All this-this stupid drama about the rabbid human! I don't care! Verminators don't need human spies, they have traitor rabbids ratting us out one hand signal at a time! If I see that mutant, I'll kill him myself just to get everybody to SHUT UP!" He spit out his gum on the floor and stuffed his mouth with a whole pack more, "So what? You're going to tell me you're not Manmade right?"

"I'm not Manmade," Guy said. The drums were so loud now Opera's ears were twitching.
"Punch.. We might have a situa-" a voice coming from Punch's radio was cut off.

"Just a second.." Punch said into the radio. He looked back at Guy, "Not that I think you're Manmade but I wanna lock you up just to be sure. You also need an attitude adjustment. I don't think you understand what we are and why you need to be working for me, but that's definitely something you should consider changing your mind about. I am very VERY persuasive. We as a species need to stop with the messing around! That's how we get taken advantage of. We need to stick together! Secure this planet for ourselves before they have any idea what we're made of! And when they're all dead we won't have to worry. They'll never find out how to do the same to us. Controlling us, killing us. We can truly be free. I can hole punch without all this other stuff in between.. and uh, you can do whatever you want then too," Punch said, "Opera grab him."

Opera held Guy's shoulders. The two rabbids started escorting him out of the room back into the hall.
"Do you hear something?" Punch said. He scratched his ears. They looked down the hall to see the red glow of Mars.

The rabbid in red playing a snare drum. Antiheroes petrified in fear around him, aiming their weapons. A cowering antihero got up to run past Mars, but Mars took his sword out quickly and stabbed him. The antihero collapsed writhing. Others in the hall didn't look at him, their bodies low to the ground to divert attention. Some of them were holding their chests the same way, previously stabbed.

Guy tried to escape Opera's grasp as Mars got closer to them but she held onto him.
"Oh!? Pfft. Well whadda you know! What do you want?!" Punch shouted at the sight.

"Such horror to end up here, yet there is opportunity. Witness symptoms of the end. See symptoms of my brothers. See how I thrive, how I multiply," Mars said he started to walk toward Guy.

"What?" Punch said.
Mars didn't acknowledge him, still walking closer.
"I am overflowing in the hearts of the abominable. Pouring out on the floor making a mess, losing my purpose. They create so much of me thinking they will create justice, only to recreate the monsters they swore slain. Even with no threat in sight they attack shadows and mirrors until they are perforated in shards, gasping their last breath, still snapping at the demons that hurt them, even as they are alone," Mars looked at Punch. The rabbid looked ready to explode.

"HEY! I CREATE JUSTICE! I don't care how ancient you are! You're an idiot if you think humans and rabbids could EVER co-exist!" Punch said. Mars didn't acknowledge him, still only talking to Guy.

"We do not always react accordingly to evil, Manmade. There is no peace without forgiveness. There is no justice without love. Without what is vital, it begins to warp into abomination, obsession. See how the antiheroes have already destroyed the wonder of their new planet. All the things they want to protect melting in a microwave of their own design," Mars got closer to Guy. Opera let go and tried to back away. Guy froze, "Still I find you even here. Any other day you would find me here with you, but tonight you will find yourself here with me," He swiped his sword through Guy and Punch, Opera already running away. Guy's handcuffs were cut in the blow, separating his wrists.

The antiheroes in the hall opened fire on Mars, launching a range of projectiles at him, including themselves. Mars grabbed at the developing dog pile, tearing them off him without much effort. Guy took the opportunity to attempt escape. He tried to pick himself up but his muscles cried out burning. He fell back to the floor and held himself. He saw Punch next to him doing the same, then he looked to check on Mars, fighting the antiheroes. Guy still had a chance.

Pushing through the burning he got himself on his feet, but couldn't stay there. He kept a hand leaning into the wall to keep himself upright and started to walk away as fast as he could. A part of the sword's sting was staying with him more this time. The acidic burning intensifying in his chest with movement.

At the end of the hall he opened a door and stumbled in. He was on an elevated grid of walkways overlooking a vast lab space. The lab was in disrepair, but new devices and weapons were scattered around work areas, as if was still being used but on a far smaller scale.

A number of rusting tanks and tubs and industrial pools seemed to be the main feature. Pipes running along the walkways textured the ceiling.

He didn't bother going further down. He only wanted to get out, and to do that he'd have to find a way up somewhere. He continued to head for the other end of the chamber.

Mars opened the same door Guy came in from, although he was at a proper distance now. Guy felt his nerves start to spike again.

"You don't look too good.." Mars taunted. His voice bouncing around the chamber. It was starting to lose its composure, "I grow stronger the more you ignore me. My ability matches those that create me. I grow restless Manmade! Devolving from what I've seen. My patience is waning, yet there is still hope. I know what you're doing, where you're going. Bring me there. I want to show you something. I need my wishes satisfied one way or another! If you do not change you will suffer! Or is that what you think you deserve..."

Antiheroes came out of the door into the chamber. Somehow, they didn't see Mars, walking right past him. A majority of them were limping.
"Punch?.. Punch?!"
"Punch where are you?!"
"Punch?!"
Some spotted Guy. They got out their weapons.
"Seize him! He's with Red!"
"Punch!?"

Guy made a dash for the little distance he had left to enter the next chamber: An empty barrack dorm. It was far darker there, but exit signs glowed brightly white. He followed them up stairs to more dorms and then to an emergency ladder, all the way up to what looked like a drain cover. The cover was protected by a machine keeping it shut, although it had a console and keyboard to interact with. He put his hand to his forehead in terror. He could hear the rabbids looking for where he went. He typed on the keys but the console required a password. He tried 'BWAH'. It was wrong. He could hear a rabbid approach the steps. His flashlight bobbing in the void.

"J-JUST OPEN!" Guy hissed, slamming his fists on the console. The computer short circuited, loosening its hold on the drain cover. Guy stopped. He wasted no time getting to the cover. He pushed it up and to the side, crawling through it to the sewer system. There was absolutely no light, but he went in anyway, holding the walls, looking for moonlight.

When he found it it was like seeing stars underground. A grate drain from above. He was determined enough to reach it, pulling himself through the narrow slit to a parking lot on a hill. The rain was still falling, although lighter. He looked around trying to ground himself. He could see above his neighborhood from where he was, far from his house now. On the horizon was smoke coming from the downtown area. It was quiet where he was headed at least. He could hear rabbids nearby, shouting Punch's name. He kept moving.

Through the shopping center and into the woods, Guy didn't hear from Mars much but he saw him. Every once and a while Guy would turn around and see the rabbid watching from far away, still as a statue, peeking around corners or trees like he was hiding. Something told Guy that if Mars really wanted to be hidden Guy would never see him.
The antiheroes hadn't seen him while looking for Punch. Now thinking about it, that probably meant Mars had taken him too. Not that Guy minded as much. Images of open wounds in perfectly cut circles were still stuck in his mind, the layers of flesh around it exposed in open air. That rabbid wanted him to have one too. He couldn't even imagine.

The wilderness he was going through was dizzyingly dark. He had to keep going in the same direction he started so that he wouldn't get lost, hoping he wouldn't pass the fort by accident. His chest still burned with every movement making the entire trip miserable as if he wasn't already cold, wet and terrified.

Passing a bush he spotted two rabbids talking on a rock.
"Hey! Am I close to the Junkard?" Guy asked them.
"Kinda? It's still around like a mile away man," the vague rabbid shape in the dark said.
"You're going the right way though," the other said.
"T-thank you.." Guy said.
"..Tourists," they blurted when Guy was far enough.

He passed a couple of more rabbids hanging out in the wilderness, some at fires despite the rain, some in trees or caves or forts. He winced knowing their joy was so far from him. He could see their smiles when there was enough light, hear their laughter, music and snores knowing he couldn't join them now. He had to keep moving.

When he saw the Junkard he felt far less relieved than he was hoping. What did Stickers and Tie have for him in there that could make a difference now? Even still, what else could Guy try? Every second he stood still, Mars was getting closer. Every time he took a desperate step his chest burned and tightened in protest. Every attack was bound to eventually slow him to a halt. He may not die, but he still didn't want to find out what would happen. Whatever it was was bound to be worse.

He entered the Junkard with only one plan: keep moving. He needed time to figure this out with his friends, but if he stayed in one place Mars was going to take them from him. He couldn't let that happen. They didn't deserve to vanish. Far, far from it. If they vanished it would be entirely Guy's fault for bringing Mars here. No more reassuring words, no friendly faces, no warm horseplay or hugs to comfort him anymore.. They had to know what to do right? Make this all better. Would they blame him for bringing Mars here? He couldn't stand to be alone in this any longer. They had to make this work.

The Junkard's tunnels were far more numerous than Guy had ever explored, so when he walked in he had no idea where to begin. Unlike the antihero's base there were rabbids pouring in and out of the Junkard at all times, although not everywhere was busy.

Guy didn't even know where Stickers and Tie lived, or if they even lived in the Junkard at all. There were so many rabbids in different costumes and outfits, all the same faces, yet he just wanted his two. He thought he saw Mars' helmet in the mix. Guy shook his head trying not to cry, running the opposite direction. With such close quarters and crowds it was easy to get caught off guard.

In a quieter hall Guy walked on his own for a while before spotting a genre he was familiar with. A ninja sitting, practicing his biwa playing. Ninjas, Stickers and the Junk Lord seemed to work together, maybe he knew something.

"..Uh excuse me- Sorry to interrupt- Would you happen to know where Tuller or Jerry is?" Guy asked quickly.
"Oh! Oh! Oh! I know those people! I did not see them, but the gossip is hot off the presses with those two! I would not go visit them right now if I were you!" the ninja said.
"Wait what? Why? What happened?"
"Jerry hurt himself bad with some magic or something, and Tuller was absolutely furious!" The ninja said.
"Oh boy.. Ok, look! I don't care if it's not a good time, this is an emergency! Do you know where they are? I need to see them, please! I need to see them.." Guy looked around the cavernous hall, but didn't see anything.

"I'll try to get you to them, but it better be a real emergency cause Tuller is not happy.." The ninja shook his head, getting up and carrying his biwa with him.
"Thank you! Thank you!" Guy said.
"Please don't mention it. I do not want to get on Tuller's radar when they're having an episode..."

The ninja brought Guy descending deeper and deeper underground. The passages got narrower to the point only a rabbid his size could go down single file. The walls were only soil and rock now. The ninja brought Guy to a rabbid sized vault door covered in stickers. Guy was in the right place.

"Soo.. this is it.. Goodluck!" The ninja said. He backed up before starting to run back the way he came.

Guy sighed. Something had happened but he couldn't waste any time. He knocked on the door. He stood awkwardly waiting. Stickers didn't answer. Guy tapped his foot and looked the way he came. Still nothing, but who knew. He tried opening the door himself. It was open. Guy opened it more and walked in.

Stickers' house was a rectangular room with a curved ceiling and a staircase going even deeper in the back. Near the entrance was a tile floor and workbenches, lamps, pencils, a laptop and modded printer. Separated by a wood floor was the more comforting but smaller carpeted lounging area with enough pillows and couches to drown yourself in.

The walls were gray, decorated in splashes of color in a street art style. Probably commissioned from a rabbid graffiti artist. Along the walls were shelves displaying models of clubhouses, the largest being a model of the Junkard. Cut into the walls were bookshelves and beds. On the curved ceiling was a mural of the night sky. Two moons stood out.

Guy spotted Stickers curled up in a bed cut into the wall. He almost didn't recognize them. They didn't have any stickers on. He walked up to them and touched their shoulder. The rabbid, surprised, sat up to see who it was. Stickers really had taken all their stickers off.

"What do you want?" They stood up, already upset. Their eye was bloodshot.
"Tuller, it's me! It's Guy! We need to go right now! Where's Jerry?" Guy said.
"Who cares!"
"What?"
Stickers didn't elaborate, crossing his arms and looking away scowling.
"Tuller, I'm serious, we need to go! Don't be like this right now please!" Guy said. He was trying to keep himself level headed.

"Guy, I'm not really in the mood.." Stickers hissed.
"Tuller! The Red Rabbid's after me!"
"WHAT?!" His eye went red, his fur standing on end, "-W-W-WHAT DID YOU DO!?" He swiftly picked up an aluminum pipe with bite marks in it and bent it into a spiral. He heaved a sigh and put the twisted metal back on a table, "What did you DO!? Did you say something to him!?"

"I don't know what you mean! Please! We have to go! He-he's going to make you disappear if he catches us Tuller!" Guy was pulling at the rabbid's hand at this point, unable to move them, starting to cry. Stickers saw Guy truly for the first time now. The poor thing was afflicted with dark black and blue patches, especially on his chest. His fur was all messy and wet, and his hands were still locked in handcuffs, although the cuffs were useless since they were cut in the middle.

Stickers sighed. He started to walk out on his own, following Guy's lead.
On the outside of Sticker's house, they both swiveled their ears.
"The drums of war.." Stickers breathed.
"Come on, we have to keep moving! Do you know how to stop it!? Every time it plays it means he's nearby," Guy said.
"YOU need to figure out what YOU DID!" Stickers hissed, walking up the stairs at Guy's request
"It's not like that! He wants me to DO something!" Guy said.
"He talked to you!?"
"Yes! He talks a lot!"
"Then what did he tell you to do!?"
"I don't know!? I think he wants me to help rabbids somehow!? But it's so vague!"

"..He's testing you?" Stickers squinted.
"I think so.."
"Guy... that's fantastic.." Stickers said, surprised.
"Is it?!" Guy chuckled, scared.
"Yes! Red sees potential in you! If you get his blessing by beating him you get a lot of clout! But if you fail, nobody will ever see you again!" Stickers said.
"There's no way I can't beat him, Tuller! He's gonna make me vanish too?!" Guy shivered harder.
"I don't know... You don't seem like the type he would banish. Y-you're not evil, even if I'm mad at you.." Stickers sighed, "Maybe this is my fault..."

"Why do you say that..?" Guy asked. Stickers hesitated.
"... Jerry and I had a fight," Stickers said.
"I heard..." Guy sighed, "Was it about me? Is that why you didn't come to my house?"
"It was about Jerry and I.. Only a little about you. Jerry's a complicated rabbid, not in the way most rabbids are, kind of like you. I might have overreacted.. I don't know. Maybe not. He could've hurt himself really bad..."
"What did he do?"

The two rabbids entered an open hall on the surface. Guy recognized it as the very same he met the Junk Lord in. The crowd was looking all in the same place. They turned to see Stickers and Guy enter. Mars was across the room, people keeping their distance as if he was viral. Stickers stopped, petrified. Guy tried pushing him, but nothing would work.
"Nonononono.." He shook his head.

"Run away to here, where your existence is tolerated for living in squalor, yet by the heart of white has been transformed into a fortress most suitable for love and fun. A space so full, yet cowers at the sight of me, lets me take as I please thinking it would satisfy. Amidst all this do not forget: no matter where you are I will find you, and as long as you ignore me I will return," Mars said, "Be frightened of what you decide you can't control. Be angry at the role I force you into. I grow restless Manmade! My sword hungers, my cape getting heavy. You know what I intend to do. You blame yourself. I think there's someone you're forgetting!" He started to charge toward them. A majority of the rabbids ran away in all directions. Stickers hesitated.

"Tuller! We have to go!" Guy said, kicking him. That got the rabbid out of his trance, running together. They both just missed Mars' sword swiping right past their heads. Faster and with better understanding of the Junkard, Stickers took the lead, but unlike before Mars was far more active in his attack. When Guy would look back he could see the rabbid stabbing at and parting the crowd. When he got really close he swung at Guy. Guy intentionally fell, causing Mars to miss and hit the wall. Mars stopped to pull his sword out, allowing Guy to get up and keep running.

"GUY!" Stickers bellowed when he saw the attack.
"Keep going!" Guy said.

They continued up in the tunnels, Guy could see how far up they were headed from the windows they were passing. Eventually they got all the way up to the top, sprinting out of an open trap door to the piles of trash that made up the roof.

Stickers tripped, sliding on the slick sheets and cardboard almost falling off the roof entirely. Guy couldn't match his accidental speed, trying to keep his balance as he headed toward him. He saw Stickers fail to get up, stuck slipping in a sinkhole in the roof. When Guy got to them he gave them a hand and helped pull them out. By then Mars had caught up to them again. He thrust his sword into Guy's back as he tried to run, but it didn't last. Stickers rammed his body into Mars, causing the whole group to trip and slide off the roof of the Junkard.

When they hit the ground they all bounced before settling in a grassy courtyard. Guy got up to see Mars had landed closer to Stickers. The Red Rabbid put his cape over Stickers and snapped it back, revealing nothing. Guy kept looking but he couldn't see them. He couldn't keep his mouth shut in total disbelief, tears blinding him. Mars walked up to him and grabbed him by his scruff, tossing him into a wall. As Guy tried to get up, he picked Guy up again, pinning him to the wall and punching him several times. He dropped Guy.

"COWARD!" He kicked him, "Of all the things you would let me take from you! I rage! I grow famished! If you love but one soul, they will soon be with ME! If anything gets in my way they will soon be like you! The destruction of your world begins by my hand, and I will no longer wait for you! Not a single thing of comfort will be yours while I hunt you! Not even the solace in thinking staying away from Jerry will protect him! All things that are with you are with me! And as your friend... Jerry is with you.. Jerry Speaker is up on the beach. I think I will pay him a visit.." Mars started to run away.

Guy, realizing where he was going, picked himself up. Mars was going after Tie. And right after he took Stickers too. He had to try and beat him. If he could beat Mars to Tie on the beach they could run away together and make up a plan. He just had to find Tie first. He had to. He had to.

With newfound strength he ran in the direction of the beach. He couldn't see Mars anymore.

Hypnotized by his mission he had to ask himself why his eyes wouldn't stop gushing, and why his face was scrunching up tight.
It sunk in that Guy would never see Stickers again. Never again. Tomorrow night, there would be no more Tuller to run up to. No more wise rabbid to talk to about the old world. No more empathy when he was in a panic, working with Tie to figure out why he was so afraid. No more loyal dedication to keeping Guy safe, getting the soldier rabbids to fight off Madman.
Never to hear the addicting laugh they gave when they heard that Guy was quipping. Guy could never get to try and cheer him up by boxing him anymore, or ask him questions about what it was like to be a real rabbid. Never again. Never ever again.

Completely gone from all understanding. Far from Guy in all ways, maybe even in pain. They'd never even get to see what kind of rabbid Guy would become, if there was anything left to become at this point. Stickers pushed Mars off the roof for him. They vanished for him. For him. He couldn't keep himself from sobbing.

As Guy was running endlessly back into the woods something began to stir in his heart. It was such a long way to the beach, but somehow he was starting to get more energy back. His friends didn't deserve to be taken, to suffer. Stickers and Tie helped him when he most needed them. It wasn't the laser that had given him a new life, they did. They had given him a life that was more fantastic and beautiful than he had ever known to exist. Sure, the laser got him to them and humbled him, but they were the ones with the empathy and wisdom to show him what it was meant to be like.

Not like tonight. Tonight was truly what it was like to be without them, surrounded by enemies too vast to comprehend. The darkness he ran through confusing and cutting his skin, the moon the only constant. Every time he tripped he only got back up faster. The pain of falling was little compared to what he already felt. He had been running for so long now but he still kept moving. He knew he was in agony but he could hardly feel it. There was something in his heart filling the gaps of his senses, steadily burning the last reserve of energy he had, keeping him upright.

If he didn't do something this was what it was going to be like forever, and all kind things would die leaving only a hellscape. He couldn't stop, not for anything.

Running through a beachside neighborhood he finally hit the sand. He looked around. There weren't any rabbids. He kept looking, trying to keep his momentum going through the difficult sand. He had come so far already. He'd go up and down the entire coast if that's what it took.

As he kept going he recognized where he ate hot dogs with Stickers and Tie his first night as a rabbid. He ran past sand mixed with ashes. Up on a dune near inland was a rabbid, although too far for Guy to properly see. There wasn't anyone else with him. Guy shook his head, it was almost too good to be true. With the last of his energy he made a dash for Tie. Behind a dune in front of him Mars walked in front of him, stopping him.

"You don't look too good Manmade," He taunted.
"PLEASE! I WAS SO CLOSE! JUST-Just let me see him! Please! I just want to see him!" Guy begged, sobbing.
"I don't recall ever doing what you want Manmade. I overflow onto the floor.. Losing my purpose," Mars walked up to Guy and stabbed him, quickly taking the blade back. Guy collapsed and held his chest. He could see Mars turn around, about to head over to Tie. The distant rabbid alone on the dune looking into the water, unaware. Mars walking with his sword in hand. In only a matter of a minute or so Tie would be gone. If only he could even... scream.

Something snapped within Guy. Something separating his thoughts from language. His actions distant from forethought like they were happening automatically, without the understanding to control himself. A moment ago he was on the ground curled up in pain, but now he was running over to Mars like his entire tank was full again. He only knew he wanted to hurt him.

Guy leapt onto Mars and punched his helmet before biting at one of the horns. Mars tore Guy off of him and tried to position his sword. Guy grabbed at the rabbids wrist.
He was stronger now. He tore the sword from the rabbid's hand, throwing it into the sand. Mars headbutted him, causing Guy to pause.
Mars tried to evade, but Guy grabbed his cape, pulling him back. Mars turned to punch him, making contact, but Guy didn't flinch, grabbing at the arm to make Mars lose balance before punching him in the gut himself. Mars tried to get up but Guy shoved him, and kicked him while he was down.

Now on the ground, Guy leapt onto him before he could get up, starting to repeatedly strike the rabbid's helmet. Mars couldn't push Guy off him. Each time Guy punched Mars' helmet he tried to do it harder. It was denting. He wanted a hole in it. Wanted to reach the rabbid's face. He tried pulling the helmet off from the bottom but he couldn't get a good enough grip. He gave up on that, returning to punching the helmet in, now with both hands. Mars tried to punch Guy back but Guy grabbed his fist and twisted it back into the sand. He screamed in the rabbids face like no sound he'd ever recognized as his own.

Guy paused. He held his head. This wasn't like him, what was happening? He just wanted to punch Mars so bad, bite him. His high was fading, his thoughts beginning to seep in even if he still wasn't completely back to normal. He tried to keep hitting mars but his anger was turning back into tears.

"No more Manmade.. No more," Mars said.
Guy growled at him.
"Be slow to anger, do not overfill. Tonight I am the villain of your story, your shadow of terror. There will be more like me, Manmade. In greater quantities, for longer durations. Those that create too much of me, and those that use me to create justice, to protect the innocent. Your rage speaks beautifully. You will fight for what you love most. Do not worry. All that has been taken has been returned.. Yes.. even him.. The destruction this world brings will affect all types.. Manmade, NEVER stand idly by while I take them again.. Shine passionately, my beautiful bright prince.."

Without enough words in his head Guy couldn't respond. At first he thought he was seeing things but Mars was turning to sand right before his eyes, vanishing in the wind. In only a few seconds the rabbid was completely gone.

Without anything in his way Guy got up and ran forward, not wanting to wait a second more away from Tie. When he got to the top of the dune Tie saw him and took a step back, afraid. Exhausted, Guy collapsed.

"..G-Guy? Guy is that you?" Tie asked, "I'm sorry!"
Guy started to cry into the sand, not holding anything back anymore.
"Guy! It's ok! I'm sorry! I'm ok!" Tie said. He sat down to meet Guy, petting his head. Guy peeked up at him through his tears. The young rabbid was actually a little less than ok. He wasn't wearing his tie, instead he had bandages over disgusting looking burn patches all over his body. His skin and fur melted together in some places.

"Your eyes are back to normal.." Tie pointed to his own eyes.
"... Jerry, Jerry you're hurt," Guy sat up and took a closer look, still crying waterfalls.
"Oh.. I thought Tuller told you," Tie said. Guy cried harder at the thought of Stickers, but Mars had said that Stickers had been returned. It still hurt to think of how close he was to never seeing them again.
"They told me you two had a fight.." Guy said.

"But not what it was about?.." He held his hands close to his chest with his 'pointer fingers' touching his thumbs and moved them forward and back in a small movement.
"No..." Guy said. He hugged him, "I.. I don't care what you did Jerry.. I.. I thought I wasn't ever going to see you again.."
"But how-? ...Should I be asking what happened to you? I hardly recognized you Guy, you're all beaten up.."
"I think it's ok now, but I was chased by the Red Rabbid all night..." Guy said.
"You were?"
Guy nodded.
"Guy I'm so sorry.. This is all my fault. My fight with Tuller must've done this," Tie said.
"Tuller said the same thing.." Guy said.

"I guess we both kinda ditched you tonight.. I didn't think Red would take the opportunity to go after you though. I thought.. That just wasn't on my radar at all, if anything I thought Red would come after me, not you," Tie said.
"If it makes any difference, I don't think you two had anything to do with what Red wanted from me tonight. It wasn't a punishment or a warning.. I think it was some sort of test," Guy said.
"Did you pass?"
"You're still here, so I think so. He was going to take you away..." Guy said.
"Oh.. Oh dear.. Then I'm very glad you passed," Tie said.
"Me too.. Me too," Guy said.

They waited there silent for a moment, letting the wind brush around them. The rain was light but the air was heavy with humidity.
Tie let go of their hug.

"I think it's about time I was honest with you Guy, but it's a long story, so why don't we head to the clubhouse. I'm sure you're tired of the rain too," Tie said. He flapped his hands going downward imitating the rain.
Guy nodded.

He followed Tie to a trap door protruding high out of the sand. He opened it and climbed down, Guy followed. Inside were two tables, a pile of board games, quilted walls, floors, a number of pillows and a light layer of sand over everything. It was dark, so Tie took a candle and a box of matches from the pile of board games and lit it. He put the candle on the table. He sighed.

"Guy, It hurts me to say this because I'm kind of ashamed of it but, ever since I figured out what you were I was very jealous, and when I figured out how it happened I was dying to figure out how to reverse the process for myself. After getting the help I needed to reprogram it and.. Heh.. and your blood.. I may have attempted to turn myself human with the laser," Tie said. Guy wasn't expecting it, but after hearing it everything made much more sense, "And hey! It obviously didn't work and really pissed Tuller off! And it also burned me really badly, which I don't think is normal, but it'll heal, but I'm sorry if I scared you Guy, or betrayed your trust! I knew it was dangerous but I.. I just thought it would heal me, help me find some people.. Sorry.." He winced, waiting for Guy's reaction. He rubbed a fist in a circle over his bandaged chest.

"You want to be.. Human?" He could hardly imagine it.
"Yes..Well maybe not as much anymore or.. I don't know! I just always felt like I was a human, ok!?"
"But humans don't live nearly as long as rabbids, I mean, we're not even sure if rabbids can die. If you were human you'd.."
"I know! I.. I thought I was fine with that, but I don't know anymore.. I was so ready to accept whatever happened, even if I died doing it, but it's all 'do or die' until it's not working, and you're starting to burn away and you get scared like.. Like it could really happen to you. I'm not doing it again anytime soon just in case you were worried. It's not like I can attempt it again even if I wanted to. Tuller trashed the whole place when he found out what I was doing. Sorry Human Guy," Tie said. He was getting more uncomfortable.

"Human Guy'll deal. I just don't understand why. Being human isn't worth doing all that to me, especially not risking your life. There's so much more to life as a rabbid. There's even more life to live being a rabbid since you guys just live on forever. Why would you want to be any different? I wish I was a rabbid like you are.. I'd never give that away. To be like one of you for good? I think.. I think it's become the only thing I ever wanted," Guy said.

"Oh Guy.. If only we could swap places.." Tie smirked, he held his hands tight and rotated them around each other, "I think I'm just desperate to find my parents. Rabbids can't spell much in anything besides their own tongue, so it's not like I could search them up, and everybody knows rabbids can't talk to humans and ask around what they know, even though I'm pretty sure I could.. I also sorta thought it'd be funny if there were two yous walking around, bad reason I know.."

Guy thought about what Tie just said, trying to connect it to things he had experienced.

"Ok wait, let me start at the beginning."

2/12/24

Title "At The Door" from The Strokes