The Three Body Problem

Chapter 9

Elytra weren't allowed during war-related activities, but Grian always kept one in his inventory anyway. It was this Elytra that the Watcher equipped midair. Had they been any less of a talented flier, they probably would have plummeted to their death anyway.

Watcher, stop, tell me what's wrong, let me help you -

But Grian's shouts did nothing. The Watcher was completely on autopilot, flying determinedly to some location unbeknownst to Grian. They veered sharply to the left as the beach came into view, and as they flew over the ocean, Grian's base came into view.

Watcher flew all the way up to the top of the base, the wind drying their tears and burning their skin, then dived down the centre. They pulled up a second too late and tumbled across the floor. Team STAR's flag tangled up in their limbs.

Watcher, please...

Again, the Watcher ignored them. They untangled themself and made their way over to the entrance to the infinity room. They crawled inside and wrapped their arms around their knees, hiding their face and sobbing.

Grian was at a complete loss for what to do. The Watcher wouldn't listen to anything he said - didn't recognize him, even. How was he supposed to help them like this?

But maybe.... The Watcher didn't recognize Grian, but they might recognize Poultry Man. Did he want to risk going AFK, though? What if the Watcher came back to themself while he was AFK and needed help? He didn't have any other ideas, though, so AFK it was.

Poult? Can you hear me?

grian? hey! is the war over?

No, but I need your help. Watcher needs help, something's happened to them. I think they might be having a flashback or something; they don't even know who I am.

oh my goodness. what can i do?

I'm hoping that hearing you and sensing you will be enough to snap them out of it. They're in the infinity room right now, though, so I completely understand if you can't.

Poultry Man hesitated. can you get them to close their eyes?

They were closed when I left, actually.

i can do it, then.

Together, they stopped being AFK. The Watcher's eyes were still closed.

watcher?

"What? Shut up, shut up, shut up..."

watcher, it's me, it's your friend.

"No you are not," they shouted, slamming their fists on the ground. "Shut up, ∴ᔑℸ ᓵ⍑ᒷ ∷!"

i - hang on, is that galactic?

What's Galactic?

it's a language. i learned it in the Void.

I thought you were alone in the Void?

i was. it... it sounds silly, but i learned it from the Void. They cleared their throat. watcher? ↸𝙹 ||𝙹⚍ リᒷᒷ↸ ⍑ᒷꖎ!¡? {do you need help?}

That shocked the Watcher into not crying. "∴ᔑℸ ̣ ᓵ⍑ᒷ∷? ||𝙹⚍ ↸𝙹リ'ℸ ̣ ᓭ𝙹⚍リ↸ ꖎ╎ꖌᒷ ||𝙹⚍∷ᓭᒷꖎ⎓." {∴ᔑℸ ̣ ᓵ⍑ᒷ∷? You don't sound like yourself.}

╎'ᒲ リ𝙹ℸ ̣ ᒲ||ᓭᒷꖎ⎓. ╎'ᒲ !¡𝙹⚍ꖎℸ ̣ ∷|| ᒲᔑリ. {i'm not myself. i'm poultry man.}

"Poultry Man? But that's - I'm a Watcher, I'm not a Hermit yet, I -" They curled and uncurled their fingers. "Grian?"