The Carnival

[Victoria]

Victoria tapped her lips with a finger, a typical quirk she had fallen into. She looked at Orion, and then towards the ground. She had hoped to learn more about the afterlife from him, and he was more than willing to divulge the information. Their first encounter had only given her a brief view of the life he had led until now, his escapades in Heaven, and now he was telling her about the world beyond life. Their conversation had turned, and she could tell that something was making the saiyan hold back. She ceased her pressuring questions, and held up a hand playfully. She motioned at him, flapping her hand up and down. “Tell me more about your trials, it’s intriguing.” She said, and grinned in a most girlish fashion.

“Well…Like I told you, I have to gain all four seals from the different Masters.” He closed his one eye, and crossed his arms. “Each of them has a different element, so it’s not easy, but I didn’t let it stop me.”

“So, there’s a Master of electricity?” She replied and tilted her head slightly.

“Yes, he’s the embodiment of speed.” He nodded momentarily and opened his eye. “He was little more than frustrating,” the saiyan remarked.

“I bet I could take him out no problem.” Victoria’s eyes lit up suddenly and her fingers twitched before igniting with electricity. “Although I never made a connection between speed and lightning, I guess it makes sense.” She clapped her hands together and extinguished the bolts.

“Lightning strikes fast, it’s hard to dodge, and that guy…well, he lived up to that.” Orion smiled coyly, and uncrossed his arms. “Aside from him, I fought a woman with ice abilities, and a man who controlled fire. Who knows what the last temple will contain…” He trailed off with that thought.

Victoria couldn’t possibly imagine what Heaven was like. Even as the undead warrior explained it to her she had to wonder just how she could survive such a world. “You said, before, that there were other places.” She licked her lips. “What kinds of places?”

“Hell, it’s not a place you want to end up in.” He answered and furrowed his brow. “It’s probably filled with changelings.”

Vic tried not to laugh. There was one thing this man did not like and it was changelings. However, she noticed that his voice was not as full of malice this time; she chalked it up towards him being calm. “So, Heaven is good and Hell is bad. I assume that if I want to go to Heaven I should try to be a good girl?” She smirked at the saiyan.

“Not necessarily…” He replied and caused the girl to cease her smiling. “I was surprised when I learned my fate,” he explained, and kept his gaze forward. “I was told that I was bound for Heaven, but only Yemma knows why.”

“Yemma? Is he the one that made the choice?” Victoria stared at him intently.

“Yes, he knew who I was, and he told me there was no mistake.” Orion seemed uncomfortable about all of it, but she didn’t want to end the conversation.

“You were bad?” She asked and immediately bit upon her bottom lip softly.

“Depends on what you think being bad entails, but I didn’t think…” His face stormed over, and she moved closer.

“It doesn’t matter what you did, in the end, it’s what’s in here,” she jabbed two fingers against his chest where his heart was located. She looked up at him, into his remaining eye, and smiled before withdrawing. Orion relinquished his gaze and followed her hand that had been touching his chest.

“What! I say, the madam has made a good point, old boy!” The hamster nudged between them and tapped his cane against the wooden bench.

Orion made a noise in his throat and closed his eye for a moment. “Maybe…Anyway, I have nothing else to say about Hell. There’s one other place, but that’s also something I know little of.” He continued the conversation, leaving everything else to the wind.

Victoria blushed slightly and pushed her silken hair behind an ear. She smiled at Orion, and he looked away awkwardly.

“Did I say something…amusing?” He asked.

“No, I just think that…despite your cold exterior, you’re kind of cute.” She nodded and shifted to stare straight ahead. “I think that we all put up a wall, and sometimes we let people chip away at it. I wonder if you’ve let me chip away at yours, and if you’ve let others as well.” She continued to smile as she spoke.

“That’s preposterous,” Orion huffed and looked dejectedly in the other direction and away from the girl.

“What do I know? I’m practically an android, some would say.” She closed her eyes then, another breeze buffeted her. “I have these beliefs about myself, and about people, and I always try to find ways to retain some kind of humanity. I guess I try to think outside of the box, justify the reasons behind a person’s actions.” She clutched her skirt in her hands, scrunching the fabric between her digits. “I have my own wall, and I hadn’t let anyone chip at it, but recently it’s become easier, and I like it.” She opened her eyes and watched the digital people walk to and fro ahead of her.

“You’re strange, but maybe that’s a good thing,” Orion concluded. “Humans are mundane, stop trying to be like them, just be yourself.”

“Geez, that’s what I mean, you’re so nice.” She held a hand to her mouth and giggled into it. “How about you stop being such a brute first?” She asked in return.

“Can’t make any promises on that.” He smiled wily in reply.

Victoria clutched the bench and leaned back, lifting her feet, and looked in all directions. She couldn’t tell how much time had passed since her last event, but it didn’t really matter. She had eaten, and found company, and soon everything would come crashing down on Gamer. She hoped to see her other friends, the people she had come close to in this strange world. It was her hope that they were still alive, perhaps somewhere else, ready to take action. She needed to surpass this place, train and become better, which was her ultimate goal.

“I know what I’m going to do,” she said this into the blowing wind. Orion shifted and looked at her curiously. “I’m going to become stronger.” She smiled at the black sky.

“How are you going to do that?” He asked, bemused by her sudden eagerness.

“I’m going to get out of here, and I’m going to keep doing missions for The Company.” She affirmed.

“Is that so? It sounds like you’re singing a different tune than before.” He replied.

“I had to think about my options. In all reality, what do I have outside of The Company? I have no money, and nowhere to run to. I can leave earth, but where to, and with whom?” She shook her head and straightened to look at him. “If I stay with them I’ll continue to grow as a fighter and learn things from them that I couldn’t learn on my own.” She held her resolve.

“You don’t have to justify your actions to me.” Orion shrugged at her.

“I’m just saying…” She trailed off and looked down. “I know what they did was wrong, but, if they hadn’t I wouldn’t be who I am today…or less of what I am.” She tugged at the fabric of her skirt while she spoke. “I have to stop moping; it won’t do me any good. I’ll surpass their expectations, no, my expectations.”

“You’re pretty ambitious for someone who can’t make up their mind.” He smirked at her.

“You’re just jealous because you’re too old to feel ambitious anymore.” She poked him in the shoulder and grinned widely. “I’m going to train hard, just like you’ll be training in Heaven, right?”

“That’s right, and then I’ll be alive again.” He concurred.

“We don’t know what’s ahead of us, your temple, and my home.” She beamed at him. “I’m going to surpass you, that spar earlier was nothing.”

“I find that hard to believe.” He waved a hand at her nonchalantly. “I’ll be well above your level by the time I return; you won’t have a chance, girl.”

“I already have new moves ready.” She tapped the side of her head and stared at him determinedly. Orion seemed somewhat taken aback. “All I have to do it make them a reality, and then you’ll get a surprise.”

“From one warrior to another, I look forward to it, but don’t think you’ll win before the fight has even started.” He lectured her. “Anything can happen between now and then.”

“You’re right, Orion,” Victoria paused and her face became morose, “do you think we’ll see each other again after this?” She asked.

“I have to go back to Heaven.” He answered.

“I mean, after that, do you think it’s possible?” She asked again.

“I’ve run into others before, it wouldn’t surprise me. Why are you upset about this? You said you were going to beat me up, didn’t you?” He looked at her sternly.

“I like to think that we’re all connected.” She stated, still looking down at the dusty ground. “Jeremy called us Supers; we all possess abilities that surpass any regular person. We’re all pulled into this place, and some of us even know each other. I wonder, maybe we have a connection, and the bonds we make have significance.” She divulged. Orion didn’t respond, and she bit down lightly on her bottom lip once again. “I want to believe that, because…because…” She grasped for the words, but bit on her tongue.

“Spit it out, what!” the hamster suddenly called out between them. The silence had crept around them, and apparently that hadn’t agreed with him. He waved his cane at Victoria and Orion perked an eyebrow at his small companion.

“Ah, what I was trying to say is that I want to see you again.” She said and intertwined her fingers together. “I respect you, when it comes down to it, you’re the most intriguing and wise person I’ve ever met.” She told him, but didn’t meet his gaze. “You know things, and I wonder,” she hesitated, “I wonder if you’d like to teach me more someday.” She found it hard to say, but finally said it.

Victoria didn’t know what Orion would say; she hoped that he would oblige her. He was someone she could learn from, and gauge her strength against. She needed someone beyond The Company, and beyond Jeremy. Even from their brief meetings she had gained things from the saiyan, how to better her skill in combat, and to tame her revengeful emotions. She didn’t want to lose touch with him, or anyone like him. It wasn’t about her liking him or not, although she did, it was about having that bond and retaining it. She had to have that to believe in, that she could have someone to share her sadness, and her joy with. He made her want to know more, not only about the world around her, but about him too. She didn’t tell him, she only smiled once again and gripped her skirt with her hands.

”Friends will only hold you back, they can become a liability,” he waved a hand at her and turned away, “stop thinking that it’s something you need, you have everything you need.”

“B-but…” Victoria stared at her feet, she fought back the tears. “I don’t understand, I had friends back home…I know it’s different here, but why? I’m…I’m lonely.”

“We’re all lonely, love.” He held a hand to his forehead, his eyes hid under the shadow of his hand. “You’ll grow to accept it. This place is built around a different foundation, and you’re better off sticking to yourself. You can talk to me, you know that, besides,” he turned towards her again and sat down upon her bed beside her, “you have him.” He reached around her and grabbed her teddy bear, he placed it in her hands and she held it tightly to her chest.

“Friends aren’t allowed here,” she confirmed and closed her eyes. “Do you think that someday I’ll be able to have friends again, maybe when I leave…” she trailed off.

“Maybe, Victoria, but you’ll have to become a strong fighter and get out of here first.” He replied and wrapped an arm around her. “You promised to be a strong girl for me, didn’t you?” He looked down at her, smiling.

“Yes, Jeremy,” she replied and avoided his gaze. “I just miss father, and home.”

“You can go home once you pay off his debt. I’ll let you go once the time has come.” He lifted his gaze and removed his arm. “Go to bed now, we’ll talk more tomorrow. Remember, friends aren’t allowed here, so you should keep to yourself so you don’t get hurt.” He turned off the light and avoided her sullen eyes.

Victoria pressed a hand against her eyes. The memories were coming to her, each one having some strange connection. She had to wonder why they were surfacing now, and what they all meant. At least I didn't pass out this time. She thought in relief. It was yet another thing she would have to discuss with Jeremy, another reason to return to him as well.

[Kaden]

Something he liked talking about… That was an interesting thought. Truthfully, Kaden had never really considered his past in terms of like or dislike. Obviously, as a series of isolated incidents, he disliked them, but actually talking about was something he just… didn’t do. He never really attributed it to liking or disliking what happened or what he could possibly gain from talking about it. It was something to think about.

“Yeah,” Kaden laughed and planted a hand on top of the girl’s head, to her annoyance. “No problem.”

In the wake of Belle’s story, Kaden found himself wondering why the girl had never tried looking up her mother again. He didn’t voice such a concern, but the idea that the current Belle Hibiki could be seen as weak, in anyone’s eyes, was… stupid. Yeah, there were people out there who were physically stronger or faster, but strength of body only took someone so far, and Belle had a lot more than muscles pushing him.

As Belle slapped Kaden’s hand away from his head, the courier feigned a smile and turned the same inspective eye on himself. He wasn’t strong, or fast, but he did have some power in him, for whatever that was worth. He had never really considered what he might be able to do with it, though. His recent life had been nothing but one insane adventure after another, never really giving him a moment to pause and think about what he would do with that kind of power if he were ever given the chance.

The things that had happened to him, the things that he had watched happen to other people, they made him feel as though there was a greater purpose to be served. Of course, Kaden always dismissed such thoughts as paper-thin rationalizations. If his past had been what given him his strength and the drive to use it, then it was justified and all part of him living out some pre-ordained purpose. It hadn’t just been a horrible person doing horrible things.

With a shake of his head, Kaden brought his train of thought to the immediate situation. There would be time to think over the events of his past when they were all out of Gamer’s overly-elaborate prison. Until then, though, there had to be something he could do to help find a way out their predicament and, sadly, it wasn’t going to be sitting on a bench with Belle. Regardless, the girl looked like she had plenty on her mind. A little alone time, by Kaden’s approximation, would be helpful.

“Well, Belle, I’m going to leave you to your thoughts.” Hopping up from the bench, Kaden as the girl looked up at him. “You look like you’ve got plenty on your mind.”

With another smile and a quick wave, Kaden took his leave. Despite his decision to look for a way to escape Gamer’s nefarious clutches, he didn’t really know where to begin. It occurred to him that volunteering Belle to help his search would have been beneficial, but by the time he seriously considered that option, he had already wandered out of view.

Irritatingly, there didn’t seem to be anything off about the Carnival. The sounds and smells and sights were all pretty spot-on. There were even plenty of “people” roaming about the attractions, talking to one another, enjoying a cotton candy, or just trying their hand at a game that was almost certainly rigged. Though the people looked real, Kaden was fairly certain they were not. Their actions were all too… routine. They moved from one place to the next, speaking at the same intervals and laughing at the same times. Those were not the sporadic, random actions of people trying to enjoy a carnival. There was also the fact that his Sight revealed only a handful of other ki sources within the entire park, but the official party line was that Kaden had come to such conclusions using only his insight.

After hours, or what felt like hours, of carefully scrutinizing everything he came across, the courier had no better idea of how to escape the Carnival. Really, he didn’t even know what he was looking for, just hoping that he’d know it when he saw it. If they were in a big computer, then maybe some kind of glitch would show up or… something. He was one of the least computer-savvy people he knew, having only ever owned a laptop that was just barely qualified to look up porn.

When Kaden stopped actively searching for some kind of magical sign that would point him in the right direction, he realized he had absolutely no idea where he was. He briefly considered calling for Mixie, hoping she could provide him with some directions, but decided against it as he took in his surroundings. Unlike the majority of the park, which was illuminated with the harsh glow of dozens of neon signs, he was practically shrouded in darkness.

To his surprise, he found it a rather welcome change of pace. Since entering Kill Town, his mind had been absorbed in one soul-searching thought after another. Either he had been wrestling with Sophia’s wild mood swings, or leaning on Piper’s shoulder, or discussing his horribly unpleasant past with Belle, or being confronted with his every inadequacy by anyone he seemed to come across and, though he felt like he had internally dealt with most of those things, it had taken his toll. His thoughts were coming slowly and far more clouded than they should be. Both were bad signs.

Physically he was as good as he was going to get while stuck in a bizarre video-game-from-hell. Or maybe that was part of the problem. The courier had never considered that, since they were strapped into some machine, doing anything would put some strain on their minds. They certainly weren’t moving their physical bodies, but their in-game commands had to have been coming from somewhere. Regardless of the cause, Kaden needed to rest his mind. Sadly, for him, that meant getting as far away from anything and everything as he could. His stupid brain simply refused to stop if there was anything to consider.

Scanning his surroundings, he realized his aimless wandering had been fairly serendipitous. There was basically nothing around him. Off in the distance he saw a couple wandering through the same section of the park, though it took no insightful deductions to discern where their focus lay. Casting a glance around, he looked for a reasonable place to let his mind rest. The stalls and attractions around him were largely abandoned, making any one of them a good place to take refuge, all he needed was to find the most comfortable one.

Turning to his left, he almost smacked into a large, cast-iron gate. Rapping his knuckles against it, he realized that it was barring access to a small staircase. His interest piqued, the courier snapped his fingers, producing an orb of ki that floated above his head and illuminated the area around him. It was, of all things, a dunk tank. Inside of the tank was a long board, long enough for him to lay across, and the fact that it was too dark to see into meant the chances of him being disturbed were very low. The ball of light above his head dissipated as Kaden hopped over the metal gate and made his way into the tank.

--

“That thing… looks asleep. Underwater,” Ashe’s voice was filled with disbelief as they both stared at the slumbering Snorlax.

“I noticed,” Kaden replied. He almost winced at the irritation in his voice. Definitely not intended, though he hoped it was understandable.

The two took a seat at the front of the attraction, Snorlax’s half-drowned snoring a surprisingly comfortable backdrop. The courier, despite being soaked to the bone and smelling faintly of wet… monster-thing, smiled as Ashe pulled her hat down over her eyes. As she tried to withdraw as much as she could, the courier pulled off his jacket and tossed it in front of him. He had to repress the concern that water could damage it, since it was just digital.

“Now now,” Kaden reached out and placed his hand underneath Ashe’s chin, gently directing her gaze in his direction. “We can’t have you hiding those beautiful green eyes…”

With his free hand, the courier pulled up the edge of the girl’s hat until her eyes were just visible. Flashing a smile, the courier’s countenance finally broke as he let his hands fall to his sides and gave a light laugh.

“… is the kind of thing Ander would say.” Kaden made a show of looking around, since he already knew the answer to the question he was about to ask. “He isn’t with you this time, is he?”

“Ander? Oh.” The girl followed Kaden’s example and looked around. “I guess not.”

“Just as well,” Kaden leaned back, propping himself on his arms. “He’d just get in the way. Though, I have to admit, he does it pretty masterfully.”

With a quick sigh, Kaden shook any thoughts of the black-haired bandit from his mind. The accompanying action, though, flicked drops of water from his hair in every direction. Beside him, Ashe winced as several drops splashed against her face. Before he even thought about it, Kaden reached out and wiped a stray droplet from her cheek.

“Sorry about that,” he said.

As Kaden tugged at the black shirt plastered to his chest, Ashe hopped off the platform of the dunk tank and turned. With a somewhat sheepish smile, she motioned for Kaden to follow her, which he did with little urging.

“C’mon,” the girl said. “There are some clothing shops not to far away.”

“Oh yes.” Kaden said slowly. “Not sure how happy they’ll be to see me, though.”

“What was that?” Ashe said, slowing her pace to let Kaden catch up.

“Nothing at all,” the courier smiled and waved the question off, not really feeling like going into detail about helping Belle trash the last store they had been in. “I guess it won’t take long to grab a new outfit,” he thought out loud.

“You’re not just going to buy more of the same thing, are you?” Ashe obviously disapproved of that tactic.

“Well why not? It’s comfortably. And besides, why waste time shopping for clothes?”

“Why waste…” Ashe shook her head, unable to fathom the answer to such a preposterous question. “You just don’t understand.”

“I… well… yeah. Fair enough.”