Pandemonium | Dream SMP

43. Got a rebellion to rebel...in.

"You wouldn't happen to know a Wilbur, would you?" The strange man continues to say, "about yae high, looks like a nerd. Oh, and he used to be a President. Can't forget that."

"Are you a friend of his?" I question slowly, regaining confidence the more the man talks. For as rugged as he looks, his deep tones and mild mannerism are surprisingly calming.

"We have a mutual understanding."

"Oh. Well, I'm afraid he isn't here anymore. He was banished from the country a few weeks back, along with Tommy Innit." I say, my posture relaxing as I loosen my grip on my trident.

The man doesn't look annoyed by this news, but instead sighs like he's been put in an inconvenience.

"Right, well, thanks anyway." And his head disappears from the door.

I blink, and stand staring for a moment before realising that that was his way of saying goodbye.

"Hold on a minute!" I say quickly, rushing to the door and almost immediately falling down the steps. The pink-haired male stands a few feet away, his back to me as he glances over his shoulder, wondering what more I have to say.

"Hmm?"

"Who are you? And why are you look...ing..." My voice trails off as my gaze wanders down his frame, and settle on the pig trotters where his feet should be. Is he part piglin?

"Techno. But some call me The Blade. Or Blood God. I like that one."

Blood god? I wonder, but instead ask, "why are you looking for him? If you don't mind me asking?"

Techno gazes blankly at me, then releases a loud yawn, his tusks blinking in the sun, and rubs at the back of his neck. "You sure do ask a lot of questions, Miss God of War."

I'm thrown a little by the 'God of War' title. No one calls me that except Schlatt.

"I'm the Secretary of Defence. It's my job to make sure you're not a threat to our country."

Not that I'm doing a very good job of it.

"Hm. Well if you really want to know, I'm here to join the rebellion."

"Rebellion?" I question, my eyes narrowing. What rebellion? This is the first I've heard of one.

Techno squints, "wait, I don't think I was supposed to tell anyone that..." He shrugs, "ah well, too late for regrets now." He starts walking off again, and I raise my trident.

"Hold on! I want to know more about the rebel-" there's a flash of silver, and suddenly something warm drips down the side of my neck. Confused, I raise a hand to touch at the warmth, and my fingers come away scarlet.

Blood?

Slowly, my blue gaze travels up to Techno. He has an arm outstretched, his red cloak flung back to reveal the sword strapped to his hip - and also the crossbow that now rests in his hand. But the crossbow is empty of bolts.

It takes only a moment for my brain to register what this means, and I look over my shoulder to see a wooden bolt buried deep in the trailer wall.

"Ah, shit. Reflex. Sorry." Techno suddenly says, returning the crossbow hastily back to its place under his cloak.

"That's...okay?" I say slowly, not sure what else to say. I've never been accidentally shot within an inch of my life before. And it really was within an inch. If that bolt had been just a little more to the left, it would have struck an artery. Did I just almost die?

Ah, it's kind of starting to sting now...

I press my palm to the wound, hoping to stunt the flow a little until I can get it bandaged.

"Yo, you okay over there?" Techno questions, his head tilted. His expression remains deadpan, but I can sense a small change to his tone, that suggests he regrets his action.

"Mm, I'll be fine. I've suffered worse." I smile awkwardly. "That's...quite a reflex you got there."

"Meh, it's a gift and a curse. Every time I see a weapon I immediately think someone is trying to kill me. I don't even really have to think about it anymore."

Well, that's not terrifying. Not even I'm that good. I'm not physically strong enough to react how my body may want to. I have to plan out my moves for maximum results.

"Yeah, well, I should probably get going now. Got a rebellion to rebel...in." Techno scrunches his nose up, rethinking the sentence he'd just spoken, but then shakes his head and turns, wandering off into the foliage.

"Hey, Techno!" I call out.

The male slows and looks back.

I point in the direction of the forest where I'd left Tommy and Wilbur on that rainy night. "Try that way."

He looks between me and the assumed location of Wilbur, and then nods his head to me, and starts walking off again.

I make my way slowly back to the walls, my head swimming with thoughts of rebellion, Technoblade, and Wilbur. Why did I help Techno?

Because you want Wilbur and Tommy to be safe. My brain responds for me. You like them, so you're looking out for them, even if Schlatt won't approve.

"Holy shit! What happened to you?"

I look up. Quackity is stood in front of me, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, his hands covered in black dust. Did I walk to the wall already? I was so deep in thought I didn't even notice.

"An accident," I reply with a small smile.

"Some accident." Quackity remarks, his expression stuck between impressed and disgusted, "go see a doctor or something. You're bleedin' everywhere."

"Yeah, I'll do that. Thanks."

I give the boy a nod of thanks and continue on my way until I find the horned man, hovering by Tubbo, watching him closely as he works.

Schlatt's nose scrunches up as soon as he sees me, and he turns to face me fully, his hands in his pockets.

"Well fuck. I haven't seen you looking this shitty in a while. What happened? You run into a bear or somethin'?"

He looked more like a pig. I think.

"Have you ever heard of a man named Techno?" I ask, taking a seat on a pile of black bricks, setting my trident down. No one has taken much notice of me yet, too busy pulling apart the last of the wall, so close to completion.

"Yeah? What about him?"

"Well, I just met him."

There's a long pause, and then Schlatt laughs, "ah, that's funny, sweet cheeks. Techno, here? There's no way."

I stare at the man, my expression blank, and Schlatt's laughter peters off.

"Oh...fuck."