"I'll stand guard while you deal with the DETECTIVE. Shit goes wrong, I'll come in, alright?" Why does this feel familiar? You swear you heard something like that in the past. Maybe not him, though.
"I dealt with a TV that tried to kill me. I think I can handle a scrawny robot, Felix." You're touched by the gesture but you really want to just get this over with. Felix merely shrugs. "Sorry. Better safe than sorry."
"Fine. Stand guard. That's an order. Even if it's unnecessary." You enter the armory.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_pnNLtWHdk - ??????? Something's wrong. It shouldn't be this dark in here. Not in a literal sense, you can see just fine. The weaponry lining the walls is visible, the PARADIGMS are neatly secured here (when not tested). The DETECTIVE is standing at the end.
But there's something overwhelming about this room. As if you're not supposed to be here. Something in your stomach squirms. No, not squirms, <span class="mu-r">rips.</span> Your own body is resisting this task.
[HOPELESS WRECK] GOD DAMNIT. WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH US? OUR BODY ROTS. WE ROT.
[HOPELESS WRECK] WE'RE NOTHING BUT A FUCKING HOLLOW SHELL, ARE WE?
[BOUND BY DUTY] A hollow shell would not have done the things we have done.
The DETECTIVE approaches you. Black tar leaks from the joints all over its body, eroding the floor whenever tar drops from it. Whatever alloy the DETECTIVE is made out of seems to resist the damage, thankfully.
"You're not sentient. I know that. I just need you to tell me." Tar flows out of your mouth uncontrollably, yet it hardly stops you from talking. Your body is <span class="mu-r">too used to its presence.</span> "Tell me what you know."
The DETECTIVE tilts to the side before it crashes to the floor. You quickly run up to it to inspect it for damage. Lord above, you spent way too much for it to break now. When you get manage to get close enough...
"A HOLLOW MAN. A HOLLOW PAST. A HOLLOW FUTURE." Something in your stomach <span class="mu-r">squirms.</span> "SUCH A PROMISING FUTURE SULLED. SUCH A SHAME."
"HOLLOWED HIMSELF OUT. A MESS OF A HUMAN. BUT THERE WAS A MAN BEFORE THE TAR. EVEN THE BONES OF DINOSAURS LINGER IN TAR."
"TAKE MY HAND. FOUND A BONE."
[BOUND BY DUTY] This is going to hurt. Physically and mentally. Your mind and body needs to hurt to remember.
[BOUND BY DUTY] I say this with the most kindness I can muster. Tough it out.
You grab its hand. A small shock rushes through its hand. <span class="mu-r">Your whole body starts twitching and squirming. Tar swirls in your brain, your eyes, your stomach, your blood.</span>
IT HURTS. IT HURTS, IT HURTS IT HURTS IT HURTS IT HURTS. <span class="mu-r">EVERYTHING IS WRONG EVERYTHING IS WRONG YOU DON'T WANT TO REMEMBER.</span>
[HOPELESS WRECK] STOP CRYING. MAKE UP YOUR BED AND LIE IN IT.
You fall to your knees. Your whole system is rejecting whatever the DETECTIVE is trying to do. You grasp your pendant tightly in your hand. Your pendant pulses, trying to help somehow. Trying to help...
You black out.
