Chapter Text
[ BLACKROCK UNDERGROUND LABORATORY.
SECTION NUMBER [CLASSIFIED]
TIME: 7:40
DATE: 11/20/████
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The camera flickers. A figure with teal horns hastens through the hallway with purpose, as if he’s racing against the clock.
[ PAUSE ]
[ REQUEST TO VIEW CLOSER. ]
Zooming in…
The face of the Inphernal is revealed.
[ ID NUMBER: ██████
GEAR TYPE: SUPPORT, HEALING
CLASSIFICATION: Medkit
AGE: ██
TRAITS: ████████████
Notes from Faction Managers:
– Please keep a close eye on this one, ty — MA
– Reply: Noted. – SE ]
[ REQUEST TO CONTINUE FOOTAGE ]
“Fuck… Fuck…” Medkit grumbled to himself.
Inphernals pass by left and right, walking without a care. He was late. Too late to be even considered late. He was supposed to be there at 17:30, not at…
He looked at his watch. The air around him was so cold that the glass of his watch began to fog up. He hastily wiped it, and the handles showed that the time now was—
Bump.
“What in the inpherno, man?!” The inphernal in front of him yelled. The books they were carrying fell to the ground with a shuddering thud that made other Inphernals walking by look, but none came to assist.
“… augh… I’m so sorry. Please, let me help.” Medkit scrambled around to help the guy pick up their books.
They sighed in relief. “Thanks.”
“It’s the least I can do…” Medkit nodded.
While picking up, he notices the titles of these books: An Inphernal's case to the Inphernal Biology, An Inphernal’s case to deities, An Inphernal’s case to Blackrock. His eyes couldn’t help but stare at them for a long time in adoration.
“Are you… a fan of ‘An Inphernal’s case’?” Medkit suddenly spoke. He picked them up into his arms, handing the books over with care to the other Inphernal.
The other Inphernal looked up, baffled. “No? Pfft– who would read this propaganda?” They blurted out, pointing at ‘An Inphernal’s case to Blackrock.’ “I’m glad the author's work didn’t get fully released here.” He laughed, shoving the books back into his arms.
“I… I see... I’m also glad their other work didn’t get past Blackrock’s censorship policy... Now, if you’ll excu–”
“This book gives Blackrock a bad look. I don’t get why they even kept this for ‘research’. Pretty stupid, right?” They snickered.
Medkit simply nodded in agreement. He adjusts his glasses. “Yes… Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
“Oh yeah. Sorry.”
Medkit shoves past them, earning him a muttered, “What’s his deal?...”
Medkit looks back at his watch. The time was now 17:50.
By the time he gets there, he’ll only have 20 more minutes to present his case about using the crystals to heal. If only the damn hallway didn’t have a “No Running” policy. What is this, a school? Medkit grumbled at the thought and paced quickly than before.
[ You are requesting to view camera meeting room 1.
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[ Opening Notes… ]
[ MA’s note: My thoughts ]
– He has potential. But his ideas don't match what we’re looking for.
– Reply: Interesting. – SE
– How did you get access to my notes?
– Reply: It’s public. – SE
– I need to fix this soon…
– Reply: You usually don’t fix this much stuff. According to my records, you were in the break room a few hours ago, drinking coffee and watching The Flipside’s new live. – SE
– Don’t classify what I do.
– Reply: Noted. – SE
The camera flickers, showing the teal-horned Inphernal presenting in the meeting room with a small number of Inphernals, around 6 or so, their expressions unreadable to the camera static. He held a briefcase with a small slideshow behind him titled “HEALING CRYSTALS.”
[ TIME: 18:03
DATE: 11/20/██ ]
“If you want to look at the experimental prototype, it’s in the briefcase.”
Medkit placed the briefcase on the table. When opened, it revealed an array of teal crystals emanating a strange minty aroma that swirled around the room. Inside was also a mini bandage and other medical supplies.
“With the crystals' healing properties, we can enhance Blackrock medicine like never before.”
He grabbed one of the crystals. Like magic– it floated above his head. “Does anyone in the audience have a fresh wound or perhaps a scar?” Medkit grabbed the mini bandage from the case. His eyes searched the audience of high-ranking members of the Faction.
An Inphernal with small, sharp horns raised their right hand. “Me. I hasss an injury from a few dayssss ago while I wassss out.”
They stepped forward. Everyone stared at the interaction with a calculating gaze, almost too coordinated.
“I see. Please, show me your injury, ma’am.” Medkit asks.
“Of courssse.” She held out her left hand. A small scar that seemed to have already healed, but it’s etched into her skin deeply.
“Please stand still.”
“Sssstill like a target.”
Medkit couldn’t help but squint at that comment. He shrugs it off by grabbing a smaller crystal from the briefcase and placing it into his hands. With a grunt, he carefully crushes it with his palm.
The shattered crystal cast a bright glow. The people in the audience raised a brow.
He turned back to the standing Inphernal, her long scaly tail swaying behind her.
He placed the bits of crushed crystals into the bandage and wrapped it around her left hand. In a flash, the bandage gleamed brightly, and that same minty aroma wafted around her hand, weaving through her skin as if it were a seamstress.
The bandage soon fell off by itself, dropping to the ground softly with a thud. The pieces of crystal seemed to have lost their energy, their bright teal colour now dull and greyish.
Looking closely at her own hand, the scar seemed to have disappeared entirely. No traces left, not even a crumb. She let out a satisfied hiss.
“Impresssssive… I thank you, Medkit of batch number 2…”
“Please, it was my pleasure, Faction Manager Snake Sniper.”
She nodded, returning to her seat.
“Now, if anyone has any questions. Please ask, I’d be happy to answer them.” Medkit gave a small smile.
A strong, scarred hand raised itself amongst the audience— an Inphernal with sharp, curved horns that looked too big to be on his head.
“Me. I got some questions.”
Medkit almost gulped. But he swallowed it back in with a quiet cough.
“Of.. Course, Faction Manager Military Axe.”
“Now… your fancy healing… uh... what did you call them again?”
“Healing crystals. It’s a… working title.”
“Got it… so, uh… how will this… fix the problem?”
“The… problem?”
An Inphernal with horns that look like icicles soon spoke up. “The problem. Medkit.”
Military Axe, shot Mister ‘I have icicles on my head.’ a look “Yeah. That’s what I meant, the problem.”
“I understand what you two mean. I am sorry for my unmindfulness.”
“You are forgiven.” The Inphernal with icicle-horns nodded.
Military Axe scoffed. “Back to what I was saying… How can it fix the problem.”
“In many ways, sir.” Medkit pressed a button on the table. The slideshow advanced to the next slide, presenting a summary of what the Healing Crystals can do to assist BlackRock.
“As I have said before, the Healing Crystals can benefit us in multiple ways. We can solve incurable diseases with the properties inside the crystals, just one simple crush and placing them inside medicine or bandages can make everybody’s lives easier. We don’t have to suffer problems such as loss and grief.”
“You’re… making it sound like it’s free.” The Inphernal with icicle-horns spoke up again.
The others nod in agreement.
“Because it will be. It may sound… unrealistic– yes, but with the effort already being put into the mine, I believe achieving this will be possible and–”
“Meeting adjourned.” The Inphernal with icicle-horns stood up. He clapped his hands, and everybody stood along with him.
“Huh?”
“Your demonstration was amazing, Medkit of batch number 2. But the base of your idea needs to be changed.”
“Why?— T.. This can solve so many of Blackrock’s minor problems, and we can help everybody–”
“Are you trying to argue with me?”
Medkit froze. He wasn’t– He– I… Medkit’s thoughts scrambled like the crystals on the floor. His mind ran through everything, trying to say something. What was he even trying to do? He wanted to. He needed to. It was his whole purpose after all. To help others.
He spoke, the air caught in his throat. “No, Faction Manager Frost Potion.”
“Good. I’m glad we cleared up the misunderstanding, Medkit of batch number 2.”
Frost Potion soon walked out of the room with the other Faction managers. Passing him by like a gust of wind.
Medkit stood there in the meeting room, staring at the bits of pieces of the Healing Crystal below him. The crystal above his head flickered.
What am I even doing…? Medkit thought to himself as he began to pick up the pieces.
[ FOOTAGE END
FOOTAGE DURATION: 5:49 ]
[ Opening Notes… ]
[ FP’s note: Meeting evaluation. ]
— 1. Unrealistic mindset, needs improvement
2. Came in late, needs improvement
3. A high understanding of the Crystal's property
Overall, 6.5/10.
Compared to his peers, he is undoubtedly the most innovative of his batch aside from Subspace. But he needs a push in the right direction. He can’t help everybody.
– Reply: Why is that text italic? – SE
– To further my point. Medkit is an important asset. His mindset just needs changing.
– Reply: Can I know how? – SE
– You may be a Faction Manager as well, but you can’t pry into the business of my division, Spy Eye.
– Also, please do not open others' notes without their knowledge.
– Reply: Noted. – SE
[ Opening Notes… ]
[ SS’s note: Thoughts ]
– very talented
– Reply: You wrote so little about him. – SE
– iam required too
– Reply: Noted. – SE
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[WARNING]
“What now…?” Spy Eye groaned.
The screen screamed at them with piercing volume. It beeped and beeped, filling the quiet security room computer with unceremoniously eye-bleeding yellow pop-ups. Who designed these computers again?— Oh yeah, they did. Spy Eye paused.
They simply input the command “A + D” and then pressed enter. All the warning signs closed themselves, all except for one.
[ WARNING. WHAT YOU WILL SEE MAY CONTAIN VERY SENSITIVE CONTENT, SUCH AS:
BLOOD, VIOLENCE.
PLEASE BE ADVISED. ]
“Noted.” Spy Eye spoke. They pressed the “CONTINUE” button on the pop-up, closing it.
[ You are now viewing camera lab room 1.
TIME: 18:13
DATE: 11/20/██ ]
The camera flickers. A pink-horned inphernal seems to be experimenting with different colored crystals. His lab coat looked dirty.
[ PAUSE ]
[ REQUEST TO VIEW CLOSER. ]
Zooming in…
[ ID NUMBER: ██████
GEAR TYPE: SUPPORT, EXPLOSIVE
CLASSIFICATION: Subspace
ALIAS: Subspace T. Mine
AGE: ██
TRAITS: ████████████
Notes from Faction Managers:
– The second candidate. Please keep a close eye on this one as well. – FP
– Reply: Noted. – SP ]
[ REQUEST TO CONTINUE FOOTAGE ]
Medkit walks into the lab. His eyes were tired, as if he had just run a long mile course. He placed the briefcase on a nearby table with cough-drop medicine.
His eyes jadedly roam around the room. He sees Subspace, his assigned lab comaptriot, as Frost Potion put it. He was experimenting with the newly discovered energy crystals like a child with its toys.
Not even a welcome back…? Medkit thought. He grumbles to himself. He slowly walked towards him.
“Subspace, what are you do—” Medkit, out of the blue, coughed abruptly. Subspace, who was caught off guard, stepped back from Medkit.
“Holy shit— Medkit— You…” Subspace looked at him like a worm, feeble and small. Yet, he looked mockingly empathetic. “...Hah. You don’t look so good, Meddy.”
Medkit scowled. “I have a cold, Subspace. I’ve had it for a while, if you didn’t notice the medicine on the table.” He scoffed.
“You’re acting like it’s my fault…” Subspace smirked.
“I didn’t say it was.” Medkit snapped back.
Subspace rolled his eyes. “Whatever… now, could you move aside? I was experimenting.”
Medkit shot back an eyeroll and stepped away from the table Subspace was experimenting on. He scanned the continent warily.
Random mixtures of different colors– and an assortment of tools that look way too unnecessary to experiment on minerals.
“That’s… not how you do it.” Medkit grabbed a random hammer from the table. “...You don’t need all of… this.”
Subspace hissed. “I was going to use that. Put it back.”
“Fine.” Medkit huffed. He reluctantly puts it back on the table.
Subspace snatched it as soon as it lay down on the table. He held it high up and— CRACK.
The crystals in front of him shattered. Dust flew away like stars. Shards crackled into pieces like a choreo. Yet they didn’t glow and prosper; they were dull, their color flickered like a dying flame. “Hm… hm…” Subspace hummed. His eyes told everything. He held no care for their true potential.
“...”
Medkit stared silently at the shattered pieces.
“...Why would you do that?”
“Hah! Why? I am experimenting, dumbass! This is how you do it!”
“...No, it isn’t.”
“Psh… what makes you say that, huh?”
“I wasn’t in the lab today for a reason, Subspace. I was in a meeting.”
“What does that have to do with crystals, Meds?”
“It was ABOUT the crystals, Subspace.”
“Ah… And that means…?”
“I know MORE about these crystals than you. You… You aren’t supposed to— smash them like they don’t mean anything. They’re precious material, Subspace. It’s precious for everyone—”
“You mean precious to you?” Subspace sneers at him. “Meddy… you’re thinking unrealistically here.”
“Unrealistically?!— I don’t—”
“Is that why you’re so back early? Because you failed to think in line with the Faction Manager’s realistic expectations?” Subspace scoffed. “Did you forget what we’re here for, Med?”
“Of course I–”
“It’s to FIX Blackrock’s problem… not… whatever your pathetic idea is.”
“...”
Subspace let out a cackle that echoed through the entire room. “HAHAHA! D… Did you… Really think… PFF– AHAHAHA!” He wheezed. “T… that.. H.. hah.. healing crystals would catch their interest?” He smirked. “...You’re pathetic, Meddy.”
“...It’s not unrealistic. I know it’s possible.”
“And why’s that, huh? Going to use the power of friendship? Don’t be so stupid, Meds, not even the other scientist would be in line with this—”
“It’s because of my gear, Subspace.”
“...Hah?”
“I can heal bleeding wounds like they’re scrapes. And put legs back together like nothing had happened, Subspace! I can do… so… so much more than just… THIS!” Medkit yelled.
Medkit huffed, “I can be better, I can make the impossible—”
“Now you think you’re better than me?” Subspace says with disgust.
“...I… I didn’t say that—”
“YOU DID! YOU SAID YOU COULD BE BETTER— BETTER THAN ME!” Subspace pointed at himself.
The room's lights flicker suddenly out of the blue. Tenseing the moment.
“HAH.. HAHA!... I SEE IT NOW! YOU THINK… YOU’RE SO BETTER THAN ME BECAUSE I’M NOT A HEALER GEAR, RIGHT…?!”
“Subspace—”
“I’M RIGHT! AHAHAHA— HAAH..! This… this is why… I’ve always hated you… Meddy… You and that… entitlement of yours…”
Subspace stepped closer. His hand gripped the hammer to the point you could see his veins. Medkit shuddered— stepping back.
“...The faction managers only like you because you’re a healer gear… don’t you see that?!”
The two stood face to face.
The crystal above Medkit’s head glowed brighter.
“...This is why I will never work alongside someone who holds no value for Blackrock. That is why…”
Subspace gets all up in his face with a maddening smirk. “I’m better than you in EVERY shape and form—”
The crystal above Medkit’s head exploded itself with a loud thundering CRACK. Medkit and Subspace were flung against the walls of the lab. Shards flew across the room— by the second, the air grew colder and colder. Icicles slowly started to form unnaturally, from the ground to the ceiling.
This wasn’t a part of the crystal's functions. They aren’t supposed to do this— how could this happen under Medkit’s watch? He did the calculations right, he knows he did— he spent day and night researching the crystals— perfecting them, how could it—
Drip.
Drip.
“...?”
Combined with the cold air, it grew more hazy. Medkit couldn’t see anything aside from pink horns across from him. And, something else?
Medkit blinked once, then twice. “…Where is that sound coming from?—”
Subspace shrieked in pain.
Suddenly, his vision came back. Medkit’s eyes unraveled the sight in front of him—
The left side of Subspace’s face is bleeding. It went drip, drip onto the floor and was sickly red in color. Various crystal shards had pierced themselves through the other Inphernal’s skin like needles probing a doll.
His arms look like they had faced the same fate. It wept all his blood out with the shards stabbing his shoulders. It was boisterously messy against the sleeves of his lab coat.
Without the facade of that smug smirk, Subspace really did look like a wet animal.
It was truly an eyesore. To see someone as self-proclaimed as Subspace screaming like a child.
Medkit stared blankly at him.
“M… M… MUH… MEHD.. KIT… W..WH… WHAT… DI..D.. YOU… DO?!” Subspace screamed out.
“..Y… YOU…”
Subspace tries to stand up. His knees were weak. His arms cried out even more as he tried to use the table for leverage. But it was no use. He falls after a single step. He is unconscious.
“...Subspace—” Medkit could only mutter his name quietly before he began coughing violently. What came out of his mouth wasn’t his saliva— it was cyan liquid. That wasn’t his blood. What was it?—
Blaring noises came from above. The alarms had set off.
In a second, Blackrock operatives kicked down the door to the lab.
They signal each other to examine everything.
Medkit let out a sigh of relief. They were here to help them! Thank goodness—
In a blur, they grab Medkit by his shoulders. “I need you to come with me, Sir.”
“... W… Wait— What?!—”
They spoke again. “Under Blackrock law, you are under arrest for harming Subspace of batch number 2 with lab property.”
“P… Please!— I… I-I didn’t… do anything! I.. It just h… ha.. Happened! Please..! You— You have to believe me! P… Please…!”
“Save it for the higher-ups, buddy.” One of them spoke.
Medkit yelled out. “NO!— PLEASE! I… I DIDN'T MEAN TO!— I… I DIDN’T DO ANYTHING WRONG!— HE… HE… PROVOKED ME! A... AND IT—”
“There’s no use screaming out words when there ain’t a judge, Medkit from batch number 2.” A familiar Inphernal with intimidating curled horns walked in. He walked past the Blackrock operatives without a care.
Medkit froze. “...F… Faction manager Military Axe…”
Military Axe sighed. “You know… We were all hoping that you’d… what’s the word?… conform after the meeting and such… but…” He looks around the room, his eyes landing on the injured Subspace, who was being taken care of by the medical officers. “I can see that ain’t the case…”
“P… please… I… please…”
“Like they said… save your words for when we meet Frost Potion…” Military Axe groaned under his breath. “...Gosh, they’re gonna have a field day with this, alright…” He sighed. “Troops, head out! Except for medical staff, you all stay here with Subspace.”
“Yes, sir!” They all yelled in unison.
“...Please…” Medkit cried out one last time before being escorted out.
Military Axe looked at the camera. Giving whoever’s watching a firm nod and exiting after Medkit and the rest of the troops.
[ FOOTAGE END
FOOTAGE DURATION: 3:59 ]
[ Opening Notes… ]
[ SE’s notes: My conclusion ]
It’s clear to say that the one at fault was Subspace. In the past, we have gotten many complaints from various members of batch 1 and batch 2 about his loud and destructive behavior.
For other faction managers reading this, please reply to this note.
SE noting off.
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