Fresh New Antivirus

Ch. 78 - The Meeting: Part 1

***

Monsters, humans and gods alike found their seats. Hushed tones were spoken before the large room fell to silence.

The room was divided into several tables, three at the end of the long, long room capturing the focus of those present. Those three important tables included name plaques and small microphones.

The center table included Ink, Dream and Blue. The table to the left were the guest speakers Fresh, Life, Reaper, Chaos, and Mercy (and a chair for Core who would occasionally pop in). On the right were the Dark Sans; Nightmare, Error, Dust, Cross, Horror and Killer - the ghost's, Ash and CC, unseen and intangible, floated.

And filling up the rest of the Council Room were the AU Representatives, ordered loosely by importance and number of copies.

Cameras littered the area pointing in various directions, but most starred toward the main event. There were tablets scattered about the room connected to the live stream for those without a good view.

Once Blue was sure everyone was as settled as they were going to be, he addressed the audience.

"THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR GATHERING UNDER SUCH SHORT NOTICE." Blue began. He gripped his bandana to prevent his hands from showing the minor shaking.

It was happening. It was really happening after so, so long. It was surreal. A truce was finally possible.

The eyes of the multiverse were on him.

Blue glanced at Dream when he felt his foot nudge him. Dream gave a reassuring smile. Blue took a breath and smiled back, relaxed a small bit, letting go of his bandana.

"FOR THOSE BOTH HERE AND AT HOME, I ASK THAT YOU LEAVE QUESTIONS UNTIL THE END, AS THERE IS MUCH TO COVER."

Blue stood tall. It was time.

"WE CALLED THIS MEETING TO DISCUSS PARAMETERS AND NEGOTIATIONS REGARDING A TRUCE WITH NIGHTMARE'S GANG, MORE INFORMALLY KNOWN AS THE DARK OR BAD SANS, AND ERROR."

Blue gestured to their table. Nightmare nodded, having (mostly) sorted his notes and put away his reading glasses. Killer saluted with his knife - Blue overheard someone quietly wonder why they hadn't confiscated it. Horror eyelight darted between cameras as he ate popcorn. Dust was playing games on the tablet provided. Cross was still drinking his chocolate milk. Error still wore his hood and was determinedly looking at the wall, trying not to think about how many people were there.

There was a wave of displeased mutterings across the room, wondering about Nightmare's true motives and the reliability of such a truce.

Ink slammed a gavel on the table twice. "Order!" He smiled as the room returned to quiet.

Blue stared at Ink. "WHERE DID YOU EVEN- YOU KNOW WHAT? NEVERMIND, IT DOESN'T MATTER. AHEM. WHERE WAS I...? AH YES." Blue regathered his thoughts. "WE UNDERSTAND A MAJORITY OF YOU HAVE YOUR RESERVATIONS ABOUT THIS TRUCE, AND WITH GOOD REASON. THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE CONSIDERED ONE OF THE LARGEST REASONS WE EVEN CREATED THE STAR COUNCIL. TO PROTECT THE MULTIVERSE FROM THEIR TERROR AND TYRANNY."

Some of the Council started nodding along with Blue.

"FOR THAT REASON, WE HAVE GATHERED SEVERAL RELIABLE SOURCES TO CORROBORATE THE STORY WE ARE GOING TO TELL; THE STORY OF HOW THE TRUCE IS NOT JUST AN ELABORATE TRAP, BUT A GENUINE EXTENSION OF GOOD WILL."

Blue gestured to the table of Guest Speakers. He introduced the gods from Reapertale, Core of the Omega Timeline and the last guest. "... AND LASTLY WE HAVE A NEW FACE, FRESH. MULTIVERSE ADMINISTRATOR, RECENTLY FORGED BY THE VOID FOR THE GOOD OF THE MAINTENANCE OF THE BALANCE AND INTEGRITY OF REALITY."