Calvin's back glistened with sweat. He had abandoned most of his clothing, the crematorium proving to be more than adept at keeping the room warm. He still wore pants, and an apron to avoid any errant sparks. And his gauntlets, of course. More tools had been left behind for Calvin, and although he was anxious as to how much Killgood knew, he spared little time questioning it. There was little time left, and Shona's sword was almost complete.
The blade was serviceable. The weighting was adequate, but the steel had come from melted down hospital tables, combined with some stronger metals he had scavenged from the Emergency Room. To most, the blade would have appeared to be a masterpiece. It was an eloquent hand and a half, with long reach but the flexibility necessary to maneuver it in tighter spaces. He had seen Shona fight with one before, and she had done quite well. Plus the blade offered enough weight to really swing it hard. It'd have to do. He had placed the string on one end of the room, laid across the ground in careful order, but had yet to start on the armor.
Calvin was so absorbed in his work that he almost didn't notice it. A gray fog blew out of a vent between two furnaces. It was so thick you couldn't see through it. But it faded quickly, revealing Alexandria. She was dressed in yellow pajamas and held a Monokuma plush.
“Hi hi!” The furnaces on either side of her belched fire.
"Fucking hell!" Calvin turned quick, almost hugging the sword.
“Man Ibbs, that sword looks like a real piece of work! Is it for Geina?” She raised an eyebrow. “Because I'm pretty sure she wanted an ax. Though she told me she'd be fine with a halberd or a sabre.” She hugged her plush. “It IS for one of us though, right?”
He took a moment to compose himself, strangely self-conscious in his current state. "It's a test run. I'm figuring out this set-up before I make anything serious." He was about to turn back, but something stopped him. He turned to look at the ridiculous bed. "Holy shit. Is this your room?" He was breathing heavy, and suddenly far less satisfied with the arrangements.
“Of course silly! Who else's room would be locked up with my handbook?” With a giggle, the life sized doll stepped closer to Calvin. “Do you like it? I didn't expect you to be out here so late. It's kind of quiet in here usually...” Her attention turned to the string. “Oh oh! Do you make dresses too? Are you making one of us a dress too?” She hopped up and down with excitement.
"They're for later. Had a friend measure me. Not walking around without protection." He was terse, and didn't want to waste time. The night of carnage was fast approaching, and he turned back to examine the sword on his anvil, checking for any defects.
“You're so mean Ibbs! Such a tease!” She hid the lower half of her face behind her plush. “I have feelings too, you know?” She stood beside the blacksmith. “You do know right?” Her massive eyelids slid part way over the glass globes in her head. "Or do you think that I'm some soulless android?"
"I don't know what you are, but you're working with that fucking bear." He didn't honestly believe that any sort of robot could feel anything, but he was trying to find a way out of this. "If you felt anything, what are you doing? Why are we here?"
“I was here to take a nap. You're in here presumably because you're making yourself a suit of armor, and a prototype weapon for one of us. Which, honestly? Sounds kind of fishy. If you're that scared of me, why make us weapons at all? You'd be arming us with toothbrushes or something.” Alexandria lowered her arms and dropped her teddy bear. “I'm serious though Ibbs. This body is made of metal, porcelain, and polymer. We don't need to question that. But do you think I'm being controlled by a person, or a program?”
Calvin was glad that the conversation moved ahead, past any questions about his work. "I don't know that shit. My guess though? I doubt there's five people running this shit." He paused, giving the sword an experimental swing, gently testing it's balance. "Why are you working with Killgood?"
The doll shook her head with a wistful smile. “You think I'm an AI, yet you also want to know why I'm working with dad? That's funny...” Her eyes flicked open with a click. “Super-tootin'-rainbow-shootin' funny!” She giggled. “I'm sorry for being such a downer, that's my other sister's job. I really just dropped by to look at the rules again.” She reached into the pile of Calvin's removed clothes and pulled out Her e-handbook. She tapped through the regulations screen. Only this one looked... different.
1. All nurses and Dr. Killgood will respond to the summons of patients, unless it would interfere with a murderer or they abuse this privilege. What counts as abuse is up to the hospital staff's interpretation.
2. Nurses and Dr. Killgood will not intentionally harm a patient, unless they violate regulations or regulations suggest harm is necessary.
3. Dr. Killgood will unlock and lock doors as he sees fit. All hospital staff can move through locked doors.
4. Nurses and Dr. Killgood (but especially the nurses) Will clean, fix, etc during night time. Rooms that need to be restocked or extensively cleaned will be locked during nighttime hours.
5. Nurses and Dr. Killgood will take a break from their duties during the night of carnage, and the above regulations are null, except for 3.
6. During the night of carnage. the camera feed for all Nurses and Dr Killgood will be deactivated, making them ignorant of patient locations. Cameras will still record footage to ensure cameras aren't being tampered with. Punishment will be handed out after night of carnage ends. (if necessary)
7. Nurses and Dr killgood will not use secret passages during the night of carnage.
8. All nurses and Dr. Killgood will start the night of carnage in their rooms. In the minutes before the night of carnage begins, they will all return to their rooms.
9. Dr killgood can only activate death traps that are less than 20 feet away from him.
10. Nurses and Dr killgood may use a carnage class chassis (CCC) during the night of carnage, but only one CCC may be active at a time.
Calvin took care to read the rules on Alexandria's notebook, trying his best to commit them to memory. He wasn't sure any of the others would get the chance.
“Okie dokie!” she said with a wink. “I just had to make sure I was in the right spot.”
"The right spot?" Calvin pulled his own e-handbook out from his pocket, and took a look at the time. "Fuck. Me." It was 11:59. He had forgotten the time while doing what he loved. The night of Carnage was about to start. He grabbed the sword, and his clothes, and made for the exit. But Alexandria stepped in front of him.
“Relax scaredy cat. I know you've been talking about the rules with the others at your evening meeting.” She lifted up the handbook for Calvin to look at the rules again. “It doesn't say anywhere that we explicitly
need to harm a patient. Only that there's nothing stopping us. It's another one of those loop-hole things. If we want you to live, we don't have to hunt you.” Alexandria's eyes started to glow a a faint red. “Oh, you flinched? I guess my eyes are doing that thing aren't they? Guess it's officially carnage hour.” Her horse entered the room, or perhaps it was always there? Alexandria's spear was strapped to its side. “Anyway, you're probably safer here. Dad or one of my sisters will catch you, even if you run for it. But they can't come in here without my permission. Isn't that great?” The doll took Calvin's hand in her own. It wasn't anything like a human. Alexandria's hand was cold and hard.
Calvin had to resist the urge to shove her arm away. She had far more power over him than he would have liked. "Well, I appreciate it. Genuinely." He still had the sword in his other hand, and imagined taking a swing at the red-eyed robot. He wasn't sure about the craftsmanship, but was even less sure about his own ability. He took a deep breath. "I'll stick around here, then. Leave the others alone, please." He hated that he had to plead with her. But he had little recourse.
The doll tipped his chin up with her free hand. “Tee Hee! You're so cute when you're filled with despair!” Her eyes closed out of joy, but the glow was so intense it shined right through her eye lids. “I can't keep an eye on you if I leave here silly. So of course I'm staying here.” she shook her finger at him. “But I want you to remember this in the future. Your BFF Alexandria didn't do you in!”
“Hey!” Called the voice of a certain stuffed bear. “Get your hands off my daughter you mongrel!”
“Eeeep!” Alexandria hugged Calvin. While still holding him twith one arm, she took her spear and turned to face the door. “You can't come in daddy!” Calvin, for his part, had turned completely white. It didn't matter that the room was full of fire and as hot as an oven, in this moment he felt cold as death.
“What did I tell you about having boys in your room this late at night?” The door the the crematorium opened just wide enough for Monokuma to look inside. However, he didn't take one step towards the blacksmith or the doll that was holding him, much to Calvin's relief.
“I like this one! This one makes me things!”
“He's lying to you sweetie!” Monokuma's eye was glowing an especially bright shade of red. “He's got other woman lined up.” Calvin shook his head furiously, unable to say anything.
“You're lying, you're lying!” Alexandria's voice was cracking.
"I- Uh." Calvin didn't know what to say. He hated seeing the bear, and being involved in whatever piece of drama was currently occurring. He merely held the sword behind himself, trying his best to remain calm and not have a complete meltdown.
"Fine, I see how it is." Monokuma tapped his foot. "I need to call in a specialist." The doctor stepped off to the side. Then with a sweep of his arms, the bear bowed and said "All yours."
Heavy metallic footsteps approached the door that didn't exactly sound like any of the carnage sisters. The figure stopped in the doorway. The light of the furnace showed that it was clearly a humanoid figure, but it was as metalic as any of the sisters themselves. The metal was darker, but the figure itself was rather featureless, save for a pair of scales on either shoulder. Besides that, the figure had a holstered handgun and blade in its scabbard, one on either side of its hips. It barely acknowledged Calvin's presence and looked straight at Alexandria. "Requesting permissions, bear." It said in a hazy voice.
“Permissions?” Monokuma pouted. “I don't know anymore! I'm not sure my daughter can be saved. But I think we can still redeem that little boy that wandered into her clutches.” Dr. Killgood lifted his head up. “Capture him if possible, but if he dies it's no big loss.”
"What the fuck?" Calvin said, his grip on the sword tightening. The figure who had just entered was unlike any of Monokuma's henchman, and that realization scared Calvin to the core.
Alexandria tossed Calvin behind herself. “Wait right there Ibbs!” With a snap of her fingers, her horse walked between the doll and the blacksmith. “Alright you big meanie! What's your game?”
"Stand down, child." The figure said as it undid a large handgun from its holster. It aimed the weapon straight at Calvin, even though the carnage sister was directly in the line of fire. "Any opposition will put your precious Ibbs in more danger than you'd be willing to bargain for." The figure said smugly. "You hand him over, or he dies. Those are your only options."
Alexandria growled. “Oh no fair!” her grip on her spear tightened. “You're not gunna fight me fair and square?”
Dr killgood leaned around the newly arrived's leg. His cheeks were glowing as red as his eye was. “Come on now sweetie, you know better to oppose your dear old dad. I say and do a lot of mean things, but I do it all because I love you!”
With a sigh, Alexandria lowered her spear. “I think we lost this one Ibbs. I'll come back if they destroy me, but you...” She lowered her head. "They just want a damsel, so your chances of living are super high if you just go with them."
"Just go with them?" Calvin eyes were on fire. He was angry at the world, at Shona for sending him here, at the stupid doll who had kept him here, and more importantly, at himself. All he wanted to do was charge the imposing figure, but he knew he had no chance. "Who the fuck are you?" He said, pointing to the metallic figure that currently had a gun pointed at him.
The fighter just took a step forward, crossing the breech between the hospital and the crematorium. “Justice.” was all the figure said before cocking the pistol.
“Alexandria, I know you don't want to but...” Monokuma drew his paw across his tiny neck. “I don't have time to play around. Well, not like this anyway.”
The doll turned to face Calvin and waved him on. Her horse stepped around the blacksmith so that it was behind him. “Please don't be mad Ibbs.”
Calvin deflated. There seemed to be no escape, and he felt a dull sort of ache in his chest. Still, he put his chin up, and looked ahead. Gripping the sword tightly, he joined the remarkable procession as they made their way out of the crematorium.
Most everyone was in their rooms. If they weren't trying to get some sleep, they were wide awake in anticipation of something dreadful. The latter was even the case for Quill and Mason. They were different people for sure. Mason had spent most of his time avoiding everyone after Mondatta shot his plan down, and Quill had been doing her best to get friendly with someone, anyone, who would pay attention to her. Mason found that kind of behavior dangerous, but perhaps that was what drew him to her when she headed for her room earlier.
“Well honey?” Quill was sitting on the corner of her bed, hugging her knees. “You've spent a lot of time listening to me, care to share your thoughts?” her flirty way of speaking sounded a bit forced compared to earlier.
“Firstly, I'd appreciate it if you didn't call me honey. That's bear food.” The barista was able to say this without smiling. “I'm sure you know I'm not a trustworthy person. I'm especially not trusting of a guy like Davis. He seems very petty.”
Quill hugged her legs tighter. “So we should be careful around him.”
“We should be careful around everyone, we can't trust anyone.” Mason adjusted his glasses. “But I don't know now. I can... almost respect Davis now.”
“What?” Quill drove her fists into her bed. “That man is the reason why we're here, all because of his pride! I have no problems with the others but he rubs me the wrong way.”
Mason raised an eyebrow. “Can you honestly say you've never felt pride or made mistakes based on that pride?”
The model looked away from the bartender. “You're taking his side?”
“No, Davis fucked up big time.” Mason looked away from Quill. “You need to be big to tell someone something like that though.” He sighed and looked straight into Quill's eyes “I poisoned my sister.”
Quill's head snapped back sharply. “E-excuse me!?”
“It wasn't intentional! I undercooked some meat and she...” His hands were shaking. “The doctors said she died of complications. The family doesn't speak about her, and it's like she doesn't exist. But she did exist, and her blood is on my hands.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
Mason fidgeted with his glasses, more out of nervousness. “Because you needed to hear it. I've never confessed to a mistake my entire life. It takes a certain amount of humility and courage to do that.”
“Yea but...” Quill slid her hands onto her hips. “It's not like you wanted to kill your sister, right?”
“I guess not...” Before their conversation could carry on, the TV in their room sparked to life. As best as they could tell, it was showing the large open area in the patient's quarters just before the hospital. Everyone's 'favorite' black-and-white bear was front and center.
“Testing, testing, one-two-three testing...” Monokuma looked at the screen in silence for several seconds. “I can't see the camera feed during the night of carnage, so I'll assume it's working and is being displayed all over the hospital. Now then.” The bear proceeded to pick up a football helmet and placed it over his head. “I was a little late with the announcement, but the night of carnage has been active for a while. Since this is everyone's first time, I'm going to issue a rule that will only be effective for THIS night of carnage. I know how you kids like to break into things slowly...”
TEMP Nurses and Dr Killgood will only harm patients who interfere with the medical staff.
The bear cleared his throat with a cough. “And as an added bonus, I'll even show you where everyone is hanging out.”
The screen showed the mono stand, where Willow was standing. “Oh!” She said and looked at the camera. “I just saw the light turn on. I guess that means you peasants are gazing upon the emasculate form of your very greatest queen of-”
The screen changed again, this time showing Nariko in the hospital. She appeared to be standing in the intersection closest to the patient's quarters. “This...” She stopped to sigh. “Is a major violation of privacy.”
The screen then flipped to the doors of the crematorium. She couldn't be seen, but Alexandria shouted “Leave me alone!” from behind its metallic doors.
The last screen change took the view back into the patient's quarters where Monokuma was still standing. Only this time, Geina was leaning over Calvin, who was tied to a chair with bandages. One of the doll's hands was resting on his head, hovering the Gatling gun on her arm just a few inches away from his ear. Monokuma crept back into view, hiding Calvin and Geina behind himself. “There you go!” The bear said with a wave of his hand. “If you want to save this poor, defenseless damsel, you're going to have to come out of your cages and play a game. But hey, if you want to watch from the comfort of your bed, the video feed will be rolling until the end of carnage night. So you don't have to worry about feeling left out when everyone's gossiping about it the next day.” Dr Killgood removed his helmet. “I look forward to meeting you, heroes.”
Mason immediately moved to leave Quill's room.
“W-what do you think you're doing?”
The barista turned to look at Quill. “When they were operating on my sister, I was forced to sit in my room while she slowly died.” He opened the door. “I'm not going to do that to Calvin too.”
The model stood up and sighed. “You're insane, you know that?”
The live feed was playing in Davis's room, but he wasn't paying it much mind. He knew Monokuma was going to catch someone. Far more pressing was what her heard the mechanical monk say after he left the break room.
"Besides, it is only fitting that I end it the same way I lived it: entrusting hope of the future into the hearts of others." “How can anyone be that selfless?” Davis didn't take his eyes off the wooden chest in his room. He was looking at it when the monk first spoke with him, and he was looking at it now when he was thinking about his words. No mater how much thought he gave it, he couldn't figure Mondatta out. “How did a coward like you get caught anyway?” Perfection gnashed his teeth. Yelling at the broken smith through the TV screen proved to be less satisfying than he thought it would be. Watching someone who betrayed him suffer humiliation wasn't all that satisfying either. “Son of a bitch!” Davis cracked open the wooden chest and rummaged around with his hand. After a few seconds, he pulled a military K-bar out of the chest and shut it. There wasn't anything special about it, except for the name engraved in the handle and the sentimental value it carried. Davis turned the knife over in his hand like he was examining a lost treasure. It was a pretty crappy choice of weapon, but it was the only thing that was readily available that he could use. “Seriously though Calvin, you really are a piece of shit.” Davis would talk to himself no longer. He made his way for the door.
Shona just shook her head. The knight suspected her sword might take too long to make, though she hadn't anticipated that the hospital staff would have been so ready to pounce on Calvin for it. So the worst case scenario happened. They really did have a hostage, and Shona was still without a blade. She feared her wooden sword was too light and brittle for a fight with metal opponents. Still, if it was all she had...
Shona was startled by what sounded like her door exploding into splinters. There poking through her door was the blade of a longsword. The knight was cautious in her approach, gently sliding the door open in case someone was still on the other side. Sure enough, it was the sword Calvin made. Someone had stabbed it through a note, and then directly into her door. The note read “Save him if you can.”
It looked like tonight wasn't all bad news.
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