At the end of the path a set of heavy doors hissed open, revealing a spectacle that stole Alice's breath. A sprawling high-tech laboratory. Gleaming metallic surfaces reflected the soft glow of countless computer screens, some humming with unseen data as others kept changing between people and events seemingly sped up. Strange vats of bubbling, iridescent liquids lined the walls with most housing bizarre creatures suspended within them. Some were monstrously scaly, others impossibly furry well a few pulsed with translucent veins, appearing as if sculpted from the cleanest of life force. Interspersed amongst these living curiosities were what seemed like objects of legend and absurdity: ancient swords, glowing enigmatic stones, his gaze lingering on three vats at the end of the line, the first one his gaze stayed on held what, at first, seemed like a simple stick of wood, so plain it might have been overlooked entirely if not for the way the liquid around it thrummed with power. Its surface was marked with uneven knots, like knuckles pressed into the grain, the wood nearly black and giving off an aura that whispered of endings. Even without touching it, the weight of its presence was suffocating—an object of inevitability, of death itself.
The next a massive black fan with a metal rim, its surface etched with swirling designs that seemed to shift when stared at too long. Despite being sealed away, the very air near it seemed to stir, carrying the phantom echo of storms and battlefields. A weapon of command, built for war and wielded by someone who had once bent armies to their will.
The final one, behind reinforced glass thicker than the others and seemingly tucked away lay a set of battered armor. The plating was dulled with cracks and dents, as though it had seen centuries of struggle, yet a faint glow pulsed from deep within its chest cavity. Though empty, the armor carried the weight of presence, as if its wearer might return at any moment to reclaim it.
He quickly shook his head before moving further into the chaotically ordered lab, a small and ancient wooden desk stood out in its mediocrity. Its dark surface was marred by countless scratches, their pale streaks stark against the deep grain, whispering tales of forgotten rituals and hurried work.
"Wow! This place is so cool!" Alice exclaimed, her awe quickly morphing into a surge of excited realization. "I get it now! This is like a prison armory where they keep all the troublemakers and things they couldn't understand so they can try to unlock there secrets along with super powerful weapons they wanted to study and copy! And now you're going to free them and they'll follow us because of those super strong 'things' kept here like I said!" She puffed out her chest, ridiculously proud of her deduction.
Braedon offered a calm, almost bored, sigh. "Not even slightly right. What you said sounds like something straight out of one of John's novels or manga. Firstly, we have no idea why they're in those tubes to begin with. Secondly, why would they bother following us just for freeing them? If anything, they'd likely rampage through here, then head straight for our world to try and take over, or something far worse. They would be just as likely to kill us and leave as they would be to eat us." He paused, his gaze sweeping over the array of tubes. "Honestly, I think only one of them would even be remotely safe to release, but he wouldn't belong in our world unfortunately but I'm genuinely surprised they actually have him. Still, I suppose it lends credence to the multiverse theory – the idea that anything can exist in its own reality and even animated worlds can have their own, tangible existence."
As he spoke, they walked deeper into the lab, passing the mesmerizing tubes. Alice had noticed how he had stopped earlier at one specific tank that held a bald man with a distinctly plain expression, clad in a yellow jumpsuit and red gloves, it was the one he had just mentioned feeling safe to release before pressing a barely visible button at the bottom of the tank causing a faint whirring sound accompanied the almost imperceptibly slow draining of the liquid. He hadn't waited for it to empty or even lingered, instead turning away from it as he led them onward deeper into the lab.
"So who is that guy? Someone you know want to help? I mean you did say he would be the only one you would be able to trust here but seemed reluctant to leave and what do you mean he wouldn't work well in our world?" Alice couldn't help but ask a torrent of questions we skipping lightly beside him, her eyes frequently drawn to the fascinating objects in other tanks rather than the beings within. A large red pole with gleaming gold tips caught her eye, as did a seemingly ordinary banana peel and then a bizarre hybrid weapon that combined the hilt and blade of a sword well having a long barrel running down its center, an assortment of different colored bullets circling it slowly in its tank.
"No, not personally," Braedon replied as they neared the ancient desk. "It's more accurate to say John and therefore I 'know of' him. He's probably one of the strongest beings in existence, not just in his own world but across most realities if I'm being honest. I figured I'd help him out; he's honestly had a pretty rough time after getting too strong and might find some fun in this place once he gets his bearings."
As they reached the desk, the scratches Alice had noticed earlier were now clearly decipherable as elaborate markings and words – strange, shifting letters and arcane symbols slowly causing her head to hurt.
"So why not have him join us or help us? Even if he doesn't belong to our world, he would be a valuable asset and ally to have if his really that strong." Alice pressed, unable to shake the feeling that such strength would be an invaluable asset. Her question made Braedon pause, drawing his attention away from the cryptic markings to look at her, if only for a moment.
"We – and by 'we,' I mean John, myself and the higher beings we have interacted with adhere to a strict rule of equivalent exchange and I would rather not risk the Jesters bosses also following such a rule." he explained, his voice taking on a graver tone. "In science, it's akin to 'every action having an equal and opposite reaction.' If we were to somehow convince him to join us and bring someone of his power into our world, a monumental cost would need to be paid to balance his existence, possibly by the higher ups or our own reality. It would be far more than we could afford, or even comprehend if it does happen so well I did let him loose id rather not risk seeing what impact he could have on our world."
With that and the way he turned from her well reaching out to press a finger onto one of the intricate marks made it clear the conversation on that topic was over. He winced slightly as the sharp edge of the symbol pricked his skin, drawing a bead of blood. He then quickly pressed his bleeding finger against a weird, eye-like mark next to it. The desk immediately pulsed with an eerie light, bathing the entire room in a deep, throbbing crimson glow.
"My, oh my, visitors? It's been quite a while since someone has come here." The voice was ancient and melodic, vibrating with an unnatural resonance of youth. "Hmm, you two don't seem like the regular sort, though. Who might you be?"
Turning to their left, Braedon and Alice locked their gazes onto an old figure that well human like was far from human. He was disheveled yet radiate an unnatural aura that cast a faint, emerald glow around him. Moss-covered robes clung to his hunched frame as his skin, a ghastly shade of pale green, bore a texture akin to cracked porcelain as said cracks let out a faint pink light. Nothing about him was normal. What truly put them on guard though was the profound, almost overwhelming feeling emanating from a collection of musical instruments that danced like ethereal apparitions around him. A pair of dulcimers shimmered in the air, one with strings of moonlight on its snow-white, hourglass form, the other a rich orange with strings as red as burning fire. A flute whispered secrets of the cosmos, while hand drums adorned with cryptic symbols floated in a haunting hypnotic ballet as unseen hands lightly thumped them. A zither and a bass guitar seemed almost strapped to his back, ready for an impromptu performance.
As he slowly approached them the instruments continued their spectral waltz, their otherworldly melodies echoing through the vast lab, making the hair on the back of the pair's necks stand on end. Tangled silver hair framed his face and a cobweb-like beard hung from his chin, beneath a pair of bright blue eyes that sparkled with unsettling mirth.
"Now, now, no need to be so worried," the old man chuckled, his voice surprisingly light despite the unsettling spectacle. "I'm merely an old man, forever stuck in this room trying to find what amusement I can with whatever is sent my way. Unfortunately, most seem far too scared of me, darting in and out well not even sparing a word. Quite rude if you ask me especially since they expect me to watch over everything in here well not being allowed to leave hmph. But I'm rambling, as for who I am as I can see the question burning in your eyes, well you can just refer to me as the Old Man of the Tunes, a magi-tech music scientist, a relic of an age long past."
As he finished, a low, resonant hum emanated from the white dulcimer, causing a subtle wave of force that gently pushed them back. Before they could stumble, two incredibly plush cushions, trimmed in gold, materialized from thin air behind, effortlessly catching them.
"And yes, I know the two of you shouldn't be here," he continued, a knowing glint in his blue eyes, which practically sparkled with amusement. "You don't have the… 'feel' the people around here usually do. And if you were meant for experimentation or examination, you'd be in tubes like the others. And just so you know I did notice you fiddling with the bald one's tank and my desk. Unfortunately, his already left the room so my hands are tied in that regard, as for what you did with my desk, remember power comes with a cost and even all the power in the world is useless if you can't use it correctly." With those words a small stick hit him across the back of the head. "Slow and steady will always win the race young one, so take care not to throw to much onto others before they are ready to handle the burdens that come along with it."
A flicker of weariness flashed across his expression at the old man's words. "I'm guessing this is where you either try to use us for something, report us or something equally tiresome that forces us to try and escape this room and get back home. Perhaps we'll be your assistants or your new toys until you tire of us and allow us to leave."
"My, aren't you the cynical one. Who crapped in your cornflakes?" The old man grinned, eyeing Braedon with a clear appreciation for his bluntness. "But no, nothing of the sort young one. They don't pay me enough to give a damn, or at all for that matter and they certainly don't treat me with any respect so why should I care what those outside this room do or think? They only seem to remember I exist when they want me to help them get stronger, or make their little 'show' more entertaining which is a horrid waste of my precious time. And even if I have a lot of it, that doesn't mean I enjoy wasting it on their stupid matters or finding ways to clean there screw ups." He finished, leaving Braedon and Alice with confused expressions.
"However, I do want something from the two of you," he added, his tone shifting slightly. "And it's clear you came here for a reason. So, tell me why you came and then I'll tell you what I want in exchange. Agreements and deals are often best when both sides can find a middle ground." As he spoke, a much larger, even fluffier red cushion that was more lavishly trimmed in gold, appeared behind him that he settled onto with a content sigh.
"Wait, you're not going to rat us out or do anything to us?" Alice asked, her skepticism evident. "No offense, but everyone we've met so far hasn't given us the best of impressions, well besides bug guy in our world and John's seemingly living garden but those don't count."
"Well, then consider me different," he replied, a shadow passing over his ancient features. "It wasn't always like this believe it or not. It used to be about progress, pushing forward and only trusting higher beings for resources well they helped there chosen by them to grow stronger in order to face threats beyond there world. But then they got greedy. They discovered that the more amusement they provided the higher beings, the more they could extract in exchange. So, they began to exploit the lower realms, tapping into multiversal properties and from there, they started using lower beings to appease the higher ones, giving no regard to their thoughts or feelings anymore, taking their freedom of choice from them. Most have forgotten our original pursuits and goal. And those who still remember like me, well were locked away and only remembered when they want or need something. Can't really say no either as it would go against what we had built and just wouldn't feel right at this point." His voice, once amused and light now carried a profound sadness. His shoulders slumped further and the mirth in his bright blue eyes momentarily dulled.
"What was the original goal?" Braedon asked, sensing a deeper narrative at play and trying to fish for more answers. "You say it was for progress and pushing forward, but towards the pursuit and goal of what? And is this exploitation of worlds truly that interesting and worth the costs?"
The flickering fluorescent lights of the lab cast long, dancing shadows across the metallic vats and the arcane instruments that floated around the old man because that is exactly what he looked like now, nothing but an old and tired man holding on to life well still helping those around him even if he didn't want to, even when he knew they were just using and exploiting him, Braedon couldn't understand it. The old man seemed to twist at that, the glow from his cracked skin mirroring the shifting hues of his eyes. One moment a vibrant oceanic blue that sparkling with an almost mischievous yet sad light well the next they bled into bottomless voids, seemingly staring through the very fabric of reality itself as he appraised both of them, gaze lingering on Alice before addressing him.
"Imagine, if you will," the old man began, his tone now taking on a detached, almost academic quality, "How it would be for beings of a higher order who feel their existence is nothing more than a narrative. A story unfolding, a show playing out. They drift in and out as they please, observing countless worlds who each move on its own unique path unlike their own solid, pre-determined fates, yet those worlds and the higher beings remain part of the same grand spectacle. The higher beings find amusement in our struggles, entertainment in our triumphs, all experiences they themselves are unable to experience." His gaze settled briefly on the pair, nodding slowly as he saw they had begun to understand even slightly where he was headed. "And now imagine the thrill they are able to feel when they finally have the ability to interact, subtly or overtly, through chosen agents in their worlds, not just plucking them to help face what is meant to be faced or being limited in what they could do, no more conforming to the realities and rules of a world but instead being the ones who make and control them. Some even take bets on their favored champions, wagering on the fate of entire worlds rather than being limited to only watching and betting on what may happen when the outcome would often be clear."
His voice quickly hardened as an icy blue consumed his eyes that now glinted with a steely resolve. "Our original purpose, the very foundation of what this organization was built upon and once was, was to prepare ourselves and the various worlds through the selected chosen. To stand as a bulwark against what lies opposite our own reality. Such as a realm of horrid creatures born for war, a twisted blood world wanting nothing more than to drown all realities and what we had been focusing our attention on before the changes happened to this organization, a dark realm filled with blind monstrosities who feed a perpetually hungry darkness. We were meant to build our strength, to unite all we could using the best of the best we could find and train to face them. Yet, as I've said, nearly everyone has lost sight of that in their greed." The endless voids momentarily swallowed his irises again. "Which brings me to what I need you to do."
Braedon shifted, a sarcastic smirk playing on his lips. "You want us to be your agents, then? Take your blessings or your teachings and work our way up this… 'group'… until we can help fight this coming enemies of yours?"
He paused, then added, "It's a typical trope, you know. From countless forms of media my host would enjoy. Well either that or you want us to grow stronger and then take over and become the final line of defense." The old man's eyes, now a brilliant, mirthful blue, sparkled at Braedon's deduction before laughing.
"Nope. Well I wouldn't say no to you two pursuing that path if you so desire but no," he conceded with a chuckle, "rather, I just want you two to take over your world, all of your world and then bridge it to others who have had the same fate befall them before uniting forces across worlds to destroy this organization before working up towards the higher beings themselves and casting them off there gilded thrones, ripping there realms to shreds well consuming them to grow your own. Or, at the very least I'd like you both to build a force strong enough to keep your world your own and break it away from there and this organizations influence."
Confused looks were his immediate reward. Alice tilted her head, her usually expressive face a mask of bewilderment beside Braedon's furrowed brow.
"What do you get out of it though?" Braedon pressed, his voice losing its sarcastic edge, genuinely puzzled. Alice nodded in agreement. "I mean, I can somewhat understand it would create an army for you to use against these outside forces and making the most of the way they do things now but there's got to be more to it."
The old man's mirth vanished, replaced by a deep, simmering anger that seemed to ripple through the air. His fists clenched tightly, the very aura around him turning violent, a tangible force pressing down on the room. "This organization has fallen so far from what it once was that none of us truly recognize it anymore. If you destroy it, us old guys and girls who still remember and were cast away can try to rebuild it from the ashes well trying to restore it to what it should be, as for ripping down the higher beings, doing so would allow us to freely take and use their resources well finding new ways to generate them for ourselves once we lose the ability to rely on them. Protecting your world would give us an army as you said but it can also be a springboard for liberating other worlds, a spark to show those who wish to rise up that it is possible, that if a human, those considered masters of none can do it those filled with arrogance in their own abilities should feel like it's a challenge and try to one up you humans, it would then be like a stone rolling down a cliff creating a land slide. The added benefit would be that they would all be pushed beyond their limits creating a better foothold to prepare for when we all need to face those other realms."
He paused, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper, the blue in his eyes now a chilling, icy hue. "And lastly, what do you think happens to worlds after the entertainment is done? Once the higher beings grow bored of a world with a ruler they've installed? They harvest it. The organization, in its corrupted state, either ends things by sending something too strong for them to handle so the higher beings get their return on investment well hand-picking the strongest beings and items for study or use in future showings before sending down what are considered 'cleaners' to harvest everything. Nothing is ever spared and when they're done, there isn't even a planet left. Just a void of nothingness. A friend of mine is then forced to clean that up by providing a new copy of what originally sat there with whatever changes they desire well they move to a different reality, letting the world grow and form till they finally return, creating a cycle across multiple realties."
His voice cracked with raw fury. "They pump her full of potent compounds and other substances then unleash her to forcefully create a new world in that void using her life force a fuel and then just before she dies from the exertion and drain they collect her, seal her back up to rejuvenate her well pumping her full of various other chemicals and the like, forcing her to recover in an unnatural way before forcing her to do it all over again. The worst of it though" he continued, his voice trembling with barely contained rage, "Is that they see themselves as gods now with her a tool to be used as they please. The higher beings and even some within this organization have all come to believe themselves to be divine now, the power inflating their egos without realizing the true might of such beings. They forget they were once as small as the two of you, how they became what they were after a lot of time, effort and a small helping hand here and there. They forget that there exist beings above even us, who are likely sickened by their actions, who I know are still trying to hold back those horrid realms with all they have."
The instruments around them seemed to vibrate, the very air thick with the old man's anger, before he visibly brought himself under control, the tension slowly bleeding out of the room.
"I want you two to fight back with all you can," he declared, his eyes now sharp and focused, hints of anger still simmering beneath the surface. "To grow stronger till you can give them a reality check even if it means killing some or most of them. Show them that ants can take down an elephant! This though, is more directed to you young man," he said, his gaze fixed on Braedon, " or rather towards your host. He's far from normal and he needs to wake up to what he can really do, especially now that he can use what he couldn't before! To bring forth his real strength! But don't go thinking you're the only one or some kind of messiah, others have had this same talk and some of the older higher beings have done the same as well, both in your world and in others they do what they can. But still, I have better feeling about you than I do others. Hahaha, but just be careful about this one." His gaze seemed to run over Alice. "She's touched by more than just a god and it seems to block my sight."
Oddly Alice didn't seem to hear him, her gaze glazing over for a moment as she shadow fizzled like static before a wide smile returned to her face. "And John thought my story was just make believe, yet here's an old man telling us to make it a reality!"
Before Braedon could question it, a smile tugged on the old man's lips, though it was tinged with something ancient and weary. "Well, I'm sure it was an amazing story, all stories tend to have a start point so maybe it was your way of planning your own one out? Now, why did you come here? I've made my request and it was accepted so as per our deal I'd like to hear your answer so I can possibly help."
Braedon was unsure what to say at first, casting worried looks at Alice well also trying to make sense of all this new information. Alice though just seemed excited as she rambled on about making more stories to try and will them into reality.
"I came looking for something to heal a soul," Braedon finally admitted well letting out a sigh. "Rather this body's main soul. I thought I'd find something here that would manage to do so, since I saw a small map on the Jester's table and this place was labeled 'lab.' So, I thought something here could work maybe help. Then I saw the vats and realized it wasn't a regular science lab but rather a bio lab and it raised my hopes slightly higher; it's why I took a chance on your altar table."
The old man nodded slowly, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "Well, I can't do anything about that unfortunately and well both the body and soul will grow steadily stronger from your actions I'm afraid I can't give you any objects from here. There too strong for you lot, something I think you realized upon seeing the bald fellow."
He glided slowly towards the table, somehow it had moved during their conversation and now sat in the center of the room. A series of drums, swung around in front of him before, with a soft thump they crashed onto the table shattering its surface and causing papers to appear and fly everywhere in a whirlwind of documents. With a casual wave of his hand, most of them seemed to turn to dust but five sheets remained miraculously untouched. Another effortless gesture and these five papers floated through the air, landing softly on the floor in front of Braedon and Alice as the old man turned his back to them.
"Well, I think you two should go now," he eventually said, his tone once more infused with amusement. "This old man needs some rest and to clean up the lab, dust and dirt isn't good for most of these items. I also seem to have destroyed all my papers, including my map of interesting locations, the map for where the vending machines were planned to be placed along with the code words for discounts and secret items… hmmm, oh and it seems the common schedule of events is also missing. How clumsy of me, unfortunately if things change it won't be of much use but could still prove to be a good reference on what is out there if it were to be found by someone from that world. It seems I will need to order some new ones eventually."
As the old man slowly made his way to the opposite side of the room, the pair exchanged a quick, knowing look before bending down and quickly tucking the five papers into her dress pocket. With quiet thanks to the old man, they swiftly ran to the exit, hearing a loud explosion in the distance after leaving the hall to the lab along with some faint screaming before stepping back into their own world through the red door.