Alternia's New Order

Chapter 8

Your body still ached as the overseers ushered you into the back of a four wheeled vehicle. Hands still bound behind your back, you sit on the cold floor with Terezi as they slam the heavy metal door. The locks click loudly, and a minute later you feel the vehicle start to move. You look at Terezi in the dim light. She seems in shock, and you can tell she's still in a lot of pain. After a few moments, you speak.

"I'm so sorry. This is all my fault" you nearly whisper. "No, it's not. I went along with this plan, Karkat. It's my fault too" Terezi says. Her expression is strong, as usual, but she is clearly broken.
"But it was my stupid idea," you insist, "Why didn't you let me take the blame in the first place?"
She falls silent for a moment before answering. "I just...he asked me. He already thought it was my idea. What was the harm? I thought...I would be saving us. O-Or at least saving you." Terezi chokes on her words, tears threatening to falls.

You aren't really sure what to say to that. She's amazingly strong, you already knew that, but you never expected her to go this far. You'd hug her if your hands weren't tied. All you can do is sit and watch as teal streaks down her cheeks. "Terezi," you breath out slowly, "I'm so sorry. I should be the one protecting you. I always promised myself I would be. You shouldn't be upset about this. We did our best."

She sniffles, and you lean over to kiss her cheek. "And there is no way they can keep us apart long. Whatever happens now, I promise I will always come for you" you assure her. Terezi nods just as the vehicle comes to a stop. This was it.

The door opens, and the two overseers step inside. They lead you two out, and you take a look at your surroundings. You were in a town, though there was no fucking way you could tell exactly where. It was an open market place. There were rows of tents and booths full of various items for sale. That's what you've been reduced to, an item. You are led to a nearby booth. There are a few other trolls sitting along the front of the booth, their hands locked in chains. There is also some arrogant looking troll with a cane examining them, probably planning to buy a few of these defenseless motherfuckers.

The overseers exchange a few short words with the female troll running this booth. Your hands are untied, but only for a moment before they are clasped in front of you with cold chains. You let out a frustrated sigh as you are thrown alongside the other slaves. The overseers then go to undo Terezi's hands. As they do, that pompous looking troll makes his way up to them. Who the hell is this douche bag? You're not close enough to hear what he is saying. You can only watch him speak. He points at Terezi, then at a couple of other trolls on the line. You draw in a deep breath, finally starting to understand. Terezi tries to turn to you, but is quickly swept away and placed in a hoofbeast-drawn cart. The other trolls that were pointed out are taken to the cart as well. The pompous troll shakes hands with the female in charge, and climbs up into the cart. He takes hold of the reigns, and with one snap he is gone.

Terezi is gone, and you didn't even get to say goodbye. The workers from Martin's plantation get back into their vehicle. They have separated you from Terezi, and their work is done. Soon, they are gone as well. For the first time in a while, you feel alone. How were you going to find Terezi again? You might not even survive long enough to get the chance. You pull your knees up to your chest and rest your head on top of them. It would probably take a while before anyone decided to purchase you, so you might as well try to get a little more comfortable.

You glance around. There doesn't appear to be anything special about this place. You look down the row of trolls beside you. Some of them appeared to have been there for quite a while. There was dirt on their clothes and faces, and several had been burned under the eye just like you. Your eyes reach the end of the row and you cannot believe what you see. There is a familiar face staring into the dirt, arms crossed. You glance at the female in charge, and determine she isn't really paying much attention to you. Quickly, you stand up and move to the other end of the row, sitting next to the spider troll.

Vriska looks up when she hears you sit beside her, and her eyes widen. "Holy-" she says loudly, quickly hushing her tone to a whisper, "Karkat? What the hell are you doing here?" "I could ask you the same thing, Serket" you reply. Without really thinking about it, you hug her, or at least you try with your hands in chains. Even if Vriska was a massive bitch, she was still your friend, and she was going though the same hell as you. She seems surprised, but hugs you back anyway. As you pull away, you can see that she is not the same as before. She is dressed in the same, plain clothes as any other female slave. Her long hair was tied back, and she didn't have her glasses.

"So tell me what happened. Where is Tavros? I hope you didn't leave him behind" you tell her. You can hear her breath catch in her throat when you mention Tavros. A cobalt blue rim begins to form in her eyes, and you scold yourself mentally for that stupid fucking question. After a moment, she starts to talk.

"I didn't leave him behind. He is...we ran away together, just as planned. I thought the outermost regions would be the best place for us to hide from the drones. We found refuge in a small town, and for a while...I was pretty happy. Tavros took my advise, and let me help him become stronger in battle. We lasted almost a month...but then the drones came to the town. We tried to get out, but they cornered us in our hive. I was...going to use my dice on them. I reached into my pocket...and one of those idiot drones much have thought I was getting some big bad weapon. I-I didn't even see him shoot, I just heard it. And Tavros just..."

At this point, there are tears running down her face. She sniffles. This is unreal. Vriska Serket, the spider bitch with no soul, was crying right in front of you. You aren't sure if you should be sad or terrified. However, as she dabs her eyes with the hem of her long skirt, you decide to take pity on her. She draws in a deep breath, determined to finish her story.

"Tavros told me before that he just wanted to be like that stupid, fakey-fake Ruffio. He wanted to be brave and do something great. I thought that was going to be a good thing for him... and he did end up being brave. He saved my life, even if the drones took me afterwards and brought me here. I'd be okay with being caught and accepting defeat if...if he was still alive. Even if I was captured and he got away, I would be happier...letting pupa fly the way he always wanted to."

Vriska wipes her face, drying the last of her tears and refusing to let any more fall. She looks at you, her usual attitude and misguided spirit have faded away. Now, she is just a slave girl. She hadn't even been sold or put to work, but watching Tavros die for her was enough. You don't have anything to say that won't make you sound like a fucking idiot, so you stay quiet. After a moment, she forces a small grin.

"So, you gonna tell me where my Scourge Sister is?" You freeze. This wasn't going to be easy news to break. You were still in shock about it, even if you refused to get emotional. Emotions translated to weakness in your position. You lift your head to look Vriska in the face. She is staring at you, waiting for an answer. You are trying to think of the best way to say this. After what seems like forever, you sigh and prepare to speak.

"It's a long story. Terezi and I-"
"Whoa!"
You're cut off by another voice in the distance. Vriska and you turn in the direction of the voice. "Karbro? Spider-sis? Is that really you, motherfuckers?"
Your eyes widen, and you stutter a response. "G-Gamzee?!"