Freeze or Fall

Chapter 40: Plans and Batteries

"So far we have an idea of how to get Wels back. Xisuma's gonna be tricky." Scar spread out the map on the table. Previously, the location of ET's base on the server had been marked as well as some other details like what entry route was the most visible and etc. "For Wels we just need to get Hels in a situation where he'd break the knight's code. That shouldn't be too hard, in theory."

The Hermits were gathered around the table they'd set up, as Scar and False went over what information they did have.

Grian added some helpful information he'd found out, as well as information they'd forgot about. ET was a Fae, the connection to the void, ET's bad understanding of Admin commands and how magic was connected to the code...

When you broke down ET, he suddenly wasn't too scary.

"I just had a thought." Etho tapped his hand on the table. "We're obviously gonna send hermits with either no Alters or the more Generals Alters, right? What about Hermits with a lot of Alters, like Grian? Wouldn't their Alters be able to snap them out of it?"

Ren, who'd switched back with Grim not too long ago, hummed. "You have a good point. The problem with that is our 'consciousness', the place where an Alter goes when they take over, get's sealed off. Grim was able to bypass the seal on his own, but only because he had the right triggers."

"So you're saying an outside stimuli is what was needed, right?" xB asked.

Ren nodded. "So Hermits with lots of Alters, or Hermits that are Alters are at the biggest risk. That would be Ex, Grian, and Grumbot at the very minimum."

"Hey, I'm coming with whether you'd like me to or not." Grian answered stubbornly, "I want our friends back as much as you do, and we both know I'd be rubbish at ground control."

False laughed. "Okay, okay. We Have Grian on the team. Who else?"

Mumbo fidgeted. "This feels oddly familiar..."

Cleo spoke up. "Would it be a good idea to send someone good with words? Joe might be able to talk down ET if he gets the chance."

"Deja Vu here guys heh." Mumbo chuckled quietly.

Iskall caught his remark. "Hey! I get what you mean, picking out people to send feels an awful lot like when we put together a rescue team what Grian got- uh- When Grian went MOA."

Grian groaned. "Don't remind me. But Cleo's right. Beetlejuice might be a problem though."

"He's only ever available when I have diamonds in my possession, other times he's pretty much retired." Joe answered. "Though if anyone's gonna talk to ET, it's gonna be Taurtis."

The player in question laughed. "Yeah, y'all forgot about me a bit there."

Grian smacked his face on the table. "This is a right old mess, aint it? Okay so me, Joe, Taurtis, Doc's coming along I'm guessing, and say Zed?"

"Don't forget me! I really don't have any worthwhile Alters right now, and I know my wya around a trap or two." Bdubs gave a pointed glance at Doc.

Doc scoffed. "You disrespected the Goat."

"yoU CHASED ME DOWN OUR STRIP MINE-"

"You're the one who set off my alarm system!!!"

Scar put himself between the two. "We get it, your rivalry is rivalring or something, but we have bigger issues."

"Anyways, that sounds like a team." Cub cut in. "The rest of us need to either be on standby or play home base."

"We are an hour into this and we still haven't figured out how we're gonna get rid of ET or how to get Xisuma back." Iskall pointed out.

Beef sighed. "I hate to say it, but Wels is probably our highest priority. To ET, Xisuma isn't very-" He winced at his upcoming wording, "-useful to him. ET doesn't really know how Admins work, so Beesu-Wasp won't pose a threat for some time. We obviously aren't equipped to take down ET yet, but we do have a decent shot at rescuing Wels."

The Hermits murmured in solemn agreement.

__________

"YOU'RE AWFULLY QUIET." Grumbot noted.

Npg and Grumbot were sitting in another part of the cave. Grumbot was charging with Diamonds for the night while Npg was fiddling with a mini rustic house he'd pulled out of nowhere.

Npg shrugged. "To tell you the truth, I just don't understand. If I don't understand, do I even have a reason to care?"

Grumbot was taken aback by the sorrowful emotion in Npg's usually energetic eyes. Rather than showing in the rest of his body, all Npg's hidden worry trickled into his eyes. "Grumbot, the server is in danger and there's nothing I can do to help. Why should I listen to something out of my control? I just want to..."

There was hesitation.

"I want to build Rustic House."

And there it was. The sorrow seemed to retreat back into Npg's inner workings, leaving Grumbot with a calm and relaxed Npg.

Grumbot wasn't made to do what he did. His limbs were to stiff to truly give what he gave.

But Npg needed one, despite how he pushed it down.

So Grumbot scooted closer, and wrapped his arms around the Android.

It was awkward, it wasn't really comfortable, but when Npg finally pulled away, he looked a lot happier.

"Back when I was glitchy, sometimes I'd have fits, episodes even. When they were done with, I'd feel lost. No way to vent to anyone, never had a reason to." Npg spoke quietly.

"Exy called them Comfort Squeezes. Then we'd go build another rustic house. Then he'd make me charge my battery again."

He set down the mini house, not finished.

"I still want to block out the world. But I don't want to block out everything. Like you and Exy, and Grian."

Grumbot glanced back to where the adults were still planning.

"They won't be done for a while. We should recharge fully."

Npg nodded. "Night Grumbot."

"Night Npg."

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