Chapter Text
It was a new day in the Digital Circus with the digital sun outside of the tent shining brightly in the faux sky. All of the members of the circus were currently in the main area. Zooble watching over Gangle as she drew in her sketchbook while Kinger hid in his pillow fort. Ragatha’s eye drifted from the two on the couch nearby to where Pomni sat across from her then over to where Jax stood leaning against a wall on the opposite side of the room, keeping his distance like usual.
But this was different. Ever since their ‘All-Guns-Blazing’ adventure neither the jester nor rabbit had spoken a word to each other.
Pomni had tried to approach Jax but he just ignored her and left the room. It rubbed not just Ragatha the wrong way but also Zooble had noticed it too. Something had happened between the two when the four of them were in the Loser Corner while the other two were still in the running for winning place.
What had Jax done?
What had he said to Pomni?
She only wanted to talk to him and yet he was avoiding her. Why?
Then again none of them could figure out what went on inside of Jax’s head. He was always pulling pranks and being mean. Should they really think about someone like that?
“ALRIGHT!” Caine suddenly appeared in the air above all the members. “IT’S A BIT TENSE IN HERE! HOW ABOUT ANOTHER ADVENTURE TO RELIEVE THAT EXCESS STRESS!”
”How is that going to help here?” Zooble spoke up, glaring up at Caine.
Caine just stared at Zooble; his fingers outstretching as if wanting to ring their neck but quickly turned to Bubble to discuss the new adventures. The others didn’t miss this as they had been noticing how much Caine had been growing increasingly more hostile towards Zooble lately.
And it was only a matter of time until he either let his frustration out on Zooble or all of them.
Just seeing Caine glitch out scared them.
If he was losing control of the circus then what would happen to all of them?
Would they be able to leave?
Or would they still be stuck and possibly would those that had abstracted be able to get out?
It was a harrowing thought that none of them wanted to experience.
“I HAVE IT!” Caine exclaimed as Bubble floated behind him, tongue poking out. “WE WILL—“
He was cut off by a loud crash from below him as his heterochromatic green and blue eyes glanced down at the group below him. The group had backed up in their seats while Jax and Kinger approached the area. On the floor in the middle of the mat between the couches was a bright red cat in a blue jacket, jeans and a white undershirt. He picked himself up from the ground his blue eyes scanning his colourful surroundings before finally noticing the others.
His face morphed through multiple different expressions before finally settling on one. Confusion.
”What?” He cried out, surprise clear on his face.
”OH! ANOTHER MEMBER FOR THE CIRCUS! MY NAME IS CAINE! YOU’RE RINGMASTER!”
“Circus?” The cat questioned, raising a brow as he once again looked at his surroundings. “Can I leave? I need to get back.”
Jax stared at the cat with a frown on his face. Why was he not scared? This was a different environment to what he’d be used to. Why was he not freaking out like Pomni did? There was something off with this new character.
”NO CAN DO. WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT THE AMAZING DIGITAL CIRCUS YOU’RE HERE TO STAY!”
The cat’s brows furrowed in worry but didn’t seem ready to give in trying to figure out just how he got there until he realised he couldn’t access that memory. The last several days were empty which meant he couldn’t remember how he got here. He could just barely remember the battle with all the Eito clones and how he had spared the real one.
Everything after that was a blur.
He also couldn’t remember his name either.
Why was that?
What was going on?
”I can’t remember my name … or how I got here…” He whimpered, hands unconsciously grabbing at his head and clutching at his ears.
He’d never felt this afraid before.
A part from the times in battle where he had to make a choice. But other than that he felt lost, scared.
He hated feeling like this…
”That’s a new one.” Ragatha said, “It’s usually just our names not how we got here as well.”
“I was new not too long ago. It’s not easy, but we’ll help you,” Pomni said, giving her best smile.
”Not me.”
”No one wants your opinion, Jax.
“That’s hurtful, Zoobie,” Jax said, a large smile on his face. A hand on his chest.
Pomni glanced over to Jax with a concerned look on her face. She had a feeling he was hiding how he was truly feeling about everything especially after their fight but he won’t talk to her. She turned back around before he noticed that she was looking at him.
”ALRIGHT, EVERYONE SHOW THE NEWBIE AROUND AND I’LL POSTPONE OUR NEW ADVENTURE UNTIL TOMORROW!” With that Caine disappeared along with Bubble.
Everyone stood there in confused silence after Caine’s sudden departure. It was always so awkward to start up new conversations with the new member. They didn’t know they’d be trapped here.
”Wait, he didn’t help come up with a name for you like he did for me,” Pomni said, worry tinting her voice.
”There’s no need for that. I got the perfect name,” Jax said, his hubris showing.
”We don’t need your input here, Jax.”
”How about Little Red?!” Jax asked, bending over and laughing at his own joke, ignoring Zooble’s growing frustration.
The cat blinked and looked down at himself. Didn’t he have red hair as a human? So a name to do with that colour made sense until he remembered his real one at least.
“Actually you can call me…” He took in a deep breath. It felt weird since he knew it wasn’t his name but he had to go by something different for the time being. “…Rusty…”
Jax lifted a brow at the name choice. “Rusty? Seriously. At least pick something — ACK!!” He was cut off by Zooble’s arm extending and choking Jax causing the rabbit to cry out in pain.
”Don’t listen to him. It’s a good name. All of us can’t remember our names either, so we’re in the same boat,” Zooble explained as best as they could finally letting go of Jax; who held his neck, wincing.
The cat; now Rusty looked around at the odd cast of characters surrounding him, swallowing, taking his hands away from his head and letting out a sigh. Things here can’t be any weirder than what he’s already been through at the academy. He just hoped that everyone will be okay without him for a while.
He was supposed to be there for everyone and now he couldn’t because of his current situation.
He just had to hope that the pair of dentures was lying about there being no escape.
He couldn’t stay here.
He had people to get back to.
He had to back … to her…