No, no. Something is not right. This is not the right part of the world. You can barely remember what it looked like, but it did not appear to be half sunken city. Sand swallows some small, eerily familiar buildings, while airborne sand licks against the outlines of homes that do not exist.
That's what you care about? Not what you've done!? Clarity pipes up. You snagged it on the way to the portal. They'd be stupid to follow you here.
He was evil. He was a monster. Why should I feel bad for doing what had to be done? You pull it out and stare at it. Tell me, honestly, what good Romeo did for the world?
And what good have you done? Clarity hisses. You narrow your eyes.
I fought that bastard several times! Even when he had the power to kill me with a flick of his wrist. I still did my part. You huff. You were not there. You did not see what I had to do. You did not see what we went through. Why Jesse let him live will forever elude me.
I'm surprised you're not hunting him down to chip him for it. Clarity acts as if it would roll an eye at that. Your insides chill. What? Did I strike a nerve there?
What is so evil about it? He was a monster! He killed his friend, he killed so many people with that stupid prison, and he left someone to suffer for all of eternity! Why am I supposed to feel bad? You nearly throw Clarity across the desert.
He was not causing harm now, though. Does it make you feel better now that he is dead?
Yes! He can never hurt any of us again! You snap back. You feel indignance leak into your mind from Clarity. I am not the same as him! Nobody told him to do what he did! He did not think it was the only option for his life! He was worse than I ever could be!
But someone could say the same about you. Then what?
How can I blame them? I did wrong too. Am I supposed to? You glare at Clarity again. What am I going to do if I am all alone in this? Radar's life is what matters here. Stopping this nightmare... It needs to be done, but how can I do it alone?
"I mean, I didn't like him either, but how am I supposed to feel about this?" Nurm asks from somewhere behind you. It seems he's trying to whisper. You do not turn. "I feel like I should be vindicated, but I can't stop hearing how he screamed. I just feel... Nothing."
"Honestly, it kind of makes PAMA cooler in my eyes." Sonar adds.
"Of course you'd say that." Nurm is probably glaring at her.
"And what the hell does that mean?"
"Um..." Tripwire interjects. "They haven't moved at all."
"PAMA hasn't... I don't think we should talk about someone who's listening." Cassie sighs.
"Well, you're all staying back." Olivia orders the group suddenly. "If anyone's going to deal with a machine in crisis, it's me." She steps to your side and you turn to stare at her.
"Shouldn't deserts be warm?" Firework asks. "Feels normal." He looks to Willow as she keeps a firm grip on Lily.
"I imagine the 'place where reality is bullshit' or whatever has a lot of little oddities like this." Cassie rolls her eyes. You step back as Olivia seems to size you up.
"Please don't make me have to go through your mind today." She says. You throw your head back and let out a strangled wail. "You're rational and reasonable. Don't you process every decision you make? I don't get why you did that."
"He deserved it." You snap. Olivia stares, seeming as if she is about to say something, before she looks at the ground.
"Back then, I think I would have agreed, but I just... I just don't know. He was pathetic. He couldn't hurt anyone." Olivia sighs. "I don't feel bad for him. But something feels... Wrong."
"Nothing of value was lost." You shake your head. "I do not care about this. I do not care about him. That is not what matters! Radar is--"
"At least you finally admit it now." Harper plods up to you. "You don't care about anything other than your stupid little revenge plot."
"Harper, let's not start anything like this--" Binta begins and Harper raises one paw. She turns back to you.
"I am your child after all." You glare at her and her eyes widen a little. "What? You have killed more people than I have."
"That was different! They--"
"Deserved it? Were dangerous?" You take the words out of her mouth. "I will concede that maybe Romeo was akin to a limbless zombie, but he still deserved what happened to him. And now, we are here, and we can focus on solving this issue."
"You're a monster." Harper grabs your arm. "Don't you get that?"
"And who raised this monster?" You push her back. "Who threw me to Hadrian? Who made me almost unkillable? Who--"
"Quit it." Binta interjects. "We'll save this discussion for when Radar's life isn't on the line. Alright?" She stands between you. Harper glares and you lock eyes with her.
"Just know, if any of you die, I'm leaving." She begins to walk ahead. You glare at her.
"With what portal?" Sonar puts her hands up.
"I do think there was a way out of here." Xara adds and everyone stares at her. "Unfortunately, I don't really remember where it is. There's something else I think is important... What was it?"
Harper stiffens and stares at the ground. Xara seems to still be murmuring. "You watched Romeo die and you don't even care."
"He also locked me in prison for an eternity. Am I supposed to care? Good for PAMA, I guess. I don't know. It feels... Weird. That's it. I wanted him to get eaten by wild animals or something." Xara shrugs and Harper claws at the ground. "What's up with you?"
"Supposedly, you know something." Olivia turns to Harper. "Well? What is it?" Harper frowns before throwing her head back with a sigh.
"None of you have memory issues, right?" She asks and everyone turns and shrugs. Xara blinks and looks at you. "I'd get better at introspection right now. Whatever you're thinking about yourself is about to become reality."
"And you tell us this now?" Olivia shouts. "That would have been nice to know before we got here!"
"Blame PAMA for that." Harper growls.
"No? You had ample time to at least mention this!" Olivia shoves her head into her hands. "What does that even mean? We lose our minds?"
"Sometimes it stops there, but, well, not every thing that lurks here is--" She begins before something slinks through the sand. "Figures. PAMA was the one who went in here first. Guess we're dealing with another PAMA today."
"What the fuck does that mean?!" Tripwire snaps.
"I'd shut up if I didn't want to--" Harper begins before something pops its head out of the sand. It looks almost like a large serpent, but then it brings part of its metallic body above the sand. Its body is akin to a centipede, segmented with several limbs. At the end of each visible limb sits a clawed hand.
Then, its mouth opens up in four equivalent segments. You stare at its face. It stares back. You share the same face.
When it speaks, it is in the same cadence as you would. It has your voice down to the letter. "Did you people need help?" It seems to gloss over the fact you share its face. It supports its head with two sets of arms and you look back to the rest of your group.
"Am I hallucinating?" Willow stares at it and then you. "This can't be real, right?"
"I often do not have visitors. I must admit that." It turns its eyes to you and you impulsively shiver. "Have you been to your territory yet? I've been surrounded since the day I got here. Bit of a ghost town, almost literally, here. I wouldn't expect another PAMA introject to wander here."
"I am the--" You begin before Nurm shoves himself in front of you. You raise an eyebrow.
"Jack told me all about handling weird phenomena like this, you have to appeal to the ego of things like this." He whispers and then dramatically bows before the creature. "We were just leaving, your great... Serpent-ness? That is all!"
The creature tilts its head. "What did he just say?" It looks to you.
"...Of all the things this place didn't pick up." Nurm groans and throws his hands up. "I'm not trusting something that steals faces. Especially not yours."
"As I was saying, I am the original PAMA."
"Bad move, bad move, bad--" Nurm begins before you hold one hand out in front of him. The creature blinks at you before it pulls back.
"Oh. Well. There really is no protocol for this. I do assume my offer is definitely very useful, then!" It claps all of its hands together before slinking below the sand a little. "What brought you here, exactly?"
"Where are the people?" Tripwire asks. The creature takes a look around before shrugging. Tripwire turns to Sonar and she just shrugs in turn.
"I don't think it's hostile. It could have torn us all apart, honestly." Sonar waves one hand dismissively.
"Even if I did want you dead, I would be a fool to turn down the opportunity to pick the real me's brains!" The creature excitedly wiggles its fingers before its head droops. It covers its head up with its extra 'mouth.' "That is a very rude thing to say, isn't it?"
"One step down from a threat, yeah." Olivia crosses her arms and the creature's mouth pops open again.
"Woopsie. I really have not gotten all of your names."
"There are too many people for this." You interject. "You mentioned territories?"
"Yeah, it's barren here for the most part. The only danger is sand. It's a bit hard for me to get around anywhere else, so... You know. Hard for me to visit, hard for me to get visited, the works. I can't tell you everything, but I do know there is a very beautiful garden around here somewhere." It brings a finger to its 'lip.' "How about this, I call you PAMA and the... PAMA and friends! Since you are all clustered together!" It puts its hands up. You note that it does not seem to process.
"Do you have a name?" You ask.
"Sandy! Because I'm a sandworm!" It brings the rest of its body out of the sand and wags the pincers on the back of its body. "It's also a bit cute, you know?"
"Were there... Ever people here?" Firework asks. Sandy shakes its head. "Weird."
"Sometimes solitude is nice!" Sandy offers. "Although, I have to say, it feels like there should be someone else here... Maybe more than just one someone." It puts a claw under its head.
"Is everyone around here... Another PAMA of some sort?" Olivia asks. You tense when Sandy nods. "What about in this whole world?"
"I don't recognize everyone, but probably not. We're stuck together, but I've heard some versions of you," It points to you, "are in plenty of other places. Whether or not they're friendly is a whole other discussion."
"So this place is just... Us?" Olivia raises an eyebrow. Sandy shrugs.
"I'm not sure. I don't head out too much. It's... Comfortable. Just don't wander too far into the desert. Last time I did..." Sandy shakes its head. "Be careful with how you speak here, that's what I'll say. Especially you," It points to you, "believe me, it gets complex really fast."
"Would have been nice to know this before we ended up here!" Olivia throws her hands up. Sandy looks away and Harper lets out a strange noise. You watch your large imitation put its fingers together and twiddle them. You assume that is its nervous 'thinking tic.'
"Okay, your autonomy is important... I remember that from your life." Sandy brings the upper half of its body down close to your group. "This way," It points a set of arms to the left, "will lead you to the gardens. I have heard a bit about it, rain may be a risk." It then points another set of arms behind it. "That will take you further through the desert. I... Wouldn't recommend it unless you believe yourself flight footed."
"And the right?" You press.
"Well, there is also the world behind you. The sands give way to this massive beach. Or so I have heard. There is something about the water there... And to the right, you will find the metropolis." It points to the right before pulling you close and whispering, "If I were you, I would convince myself that I am very water resistant."
"And lose that part of myself?" You resist the urge to recoil.
"Better than losing your life, I would say." Sandy pulls back. "That is all from me! I hope to hear that you are still among the living when my friends come back!" Before anyone can speak, it dives back under the sand.
"Reminds me a lot of a certain someone." Olivia stares at Harper. "Can things like that pull from multiple people?" She ponders.
"What did it say to you?" Binta asks and you shake your head.
"Nothing important. Does anyone have an umbrella?" You ask.
"Wait, I want to try something." Olivia interjects as some of your group shakes their heads. She touches you on the shoulder and you blink. Wait, you... Yeah, you brought an umbrella! You pull it out. It seems awfully garish, decorated in some of the ugliest flowers you have ever seen. You would not make something like this.
"But PAMA's memory is... That makes no sense!" Tripwire stares at it. "I know you wouldn't have asked if you didn't bring that!"
"Wouldn't have asked what?" You tilt your head.
"You didn't have an umbrella earlier!" Tripwire insists as Olivia slowly covers her mouth. You blink and drop it.
"I just... I convinced you you had one." Olivia admits as you step back. "I thought I'd test it out with something simple."
"Well, it still... Exists." Tripwire looks over the umbrella before picking it up. "So we may as well give it back."
"I have always had it!" You insist as you take it back. "At least I think I have... I cannot remember who gave it to me."
"And you didn't warn us about this? What else can we lose?" Nurm stares at Harper as she steps back. "What if we leave here not knowing anyone or anything from our former lives?!"
"Radar might not even remember himself!" Tripwire begins to pace. "And how are you supposed to tell an imitation from yourself? What if... What if there are people here who used to be like us? How would we know?"
"Okay, we're the originals. Remember that. And don't develop any amnesia bullshit!" Harper snaps. "There. Solved your problem."
She really solved nothing. Clarity interjects and you hold it out. Passing me around really isn't going to fix this. Wait, let me try something. You are reminded of the fact the umbrella did not originally exist. It seems to unravel.
"Well. That's fucked up." Sonar admits. You hear Willow murmuring something and turn to find she is still clinging to Lily. Right. There was no way she could have seen that.
"You can convince anyone of anything here..." Willow blinks stupidly. "Hell, you could invent a new color and then... I don't know, drive someone mad?"
"Could you change yourself for the better?" Sonar asks. "Would everyone assume you've always been that way when you come out, or would they know the truth?" She turns to Harper who shrugs.
"Don't play with it. Alright? You're not going to get a better mind fucking with it."
"Knowing our luck, we'd just end up like that big PAMA-pede." Tripwire shrugs and Nurm sighs. "Yeah?"
"So you could just... Forget yourself here? Nothing you ever did before would have mattered."
"Maybe." Harper shakes her head. "But it seems you can remind someone of what they're supposed to be."
"But you could be... Be better?" Lily interjects. "You could be the best thing you were ever meant to be..."
"Or you could go mad." Tripwire stares at her. "I'm surprised the umbrella didn't send PAMA over the edge."
"So if I convince myself that that building is a... A car, would that work?" Tripwire points to one of the dusty buildings. "Or would we all have to believe it?"
"I don't know!" Harper snaps. "Why are you all so intent on being deluded?" Tripwire shrugs.
"I mean, it's important to know. What are the limits of this sort of... Reality warping memory thing? If we're all convinced something's a monster, does it mean it'll act that way? Or does it turn to normal when one person is convinced? Does it only affect us?"
"Stop asking questions. I don't know." Harper shoves her head into her hands. "Is that sufficient?"
"So that's... That's what staying whole was about..." Xara's eyes widen. "This whole place is designed to warp itself based on memory... But I don't think it's our memory?"
"A part of it is our memory, though. What do you mean it's not our memory?" Tripwire stares at Xara.
"I think something else is perceiving us." Xara sighs and Tripwire's head swirls around. "Not like that. It's more like... Well, it's not looking at us, but it's aware of us to an extent. I think... I think it knew us before we got here."
"And it sees me as a sandworm?" You raise an eyebrow.
"Well, it has to see more. There's not just you in here." Xara says.
"I wish we asked more about this place. Where would Radar even be?" Binta considers aloud as Nurm seems to look around. "You've got an area for how this place works?"
"This is the most disoriented I've felt in my life. So no." Nurm shakes his head. "If the world around us can change at any moment, how are we supposed to know up from down? What is the point in trying to map it?"
"Does that mean it'd respond to what we want?" Lily asks.
"I wouldn't count on it." Xara shakes her head. "I'd be careful." It feels as if you are on the cusp of remembering something before your mind buries it. Well, isn't that just reassuring? Why is your mind so intent on burying something now?
"Well, we can't stay here..." Binta begins.
"But we barely know anything! Sure, there's a 'garden,' whatever that means, but it could be full of man-eating plants or something. Of course a massive PAMA-pede wouldn't be bothered by monsters or other threats like that." Tripwire interjects.
"Assuming it isn't lying, of course." Olivia adds. "I doubt it would, considering it could just kill us... Unless it wants to watch us die."
"What about you, PAMA? Since you're sooo smart?" Willow turns to you.
"Wouldn't it be torturing us?" Lily asks and Willow stares at her.
"It did not seem to be lying." You offer.
"It did also whisper something to PAMA... Maybe it's got PAMA under its spell." Sonar shrugs. "But... I don't feel weird about it. Not exactly?"
Okay, now people are just being paranoid. Clarity thinks. Why did you even bring me?
I do not know. I think something told me to... You admit.
Guess I'm looking for the reason, then. Clarity shuts up after that and you tense a little.
"We could flip a coin or something?" Cassie offers and people stare at her. "What? If I go crazy, just kill me. I don't want to live as some weird mockery of myself. Or... Kill anyone here?"
"PAMA's tied to this thing a bit, so shouldn't they know the best course of action?" Olivia turns to you.
"We don't share memories with our other selves!" Harper snaps. "They just take what we already had."
"But maybe there's still a connection." Olivia turns to her. "Besides, it's not like any of us have any better ideas."
Where exactly do we go?
Backwards
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