"Well well . . . . Looks like you've all been very BUSY while I've been getting stronger . . . . . too bad . . . that whatever you lot have up your sleeves . . .  won't be NEARLY enough."

Anti shoved Chase behind him but was now frozen to the spot. The last time Antisepticeye was here, he killed everyone he ever cared about.

Jackie circled around the room, assessing him and trying to get a little closer to one of the Pheno guns, 'Chase is too far away from them. If I can get to Henrik and grab the gun, maybe I can stun him and-'

Antisepticeye grinned at him, catching his eye, "Where do you think you're going? Do you think I'm stupid, hero?"

Jackie halted but kept his gaze locked on to his. He wouldn't back down or freeze up this time.

And apparently, Marvin thought the same thing, aiming a blast straight at him from his fingertips.

Antisepticeye just glitched out of the way seamlessly, though, "So silly, you all are. You think you can win. NO ONE . . can defeat me now. Not one of you . . . and certainly not all of you together. Isn't that right, Anti? You already know"

He snapped his eyes to Anti, who shuddered and submissively turned away.

Anti just couldn't look him in the eyes. He just couldn't do it. He'd just re-live his pain all over again.

'I should have never allowed them to stay here! But I missed their presence so much . .. I'm so-'

"Pathetic" Antisepticeye snarled at him, "How we're even the same derivative is beyond me. You're so cowardly, you can't even look me in the eye or speak to me. No wonder they all died last time. With you protecting them, they were doomed from the start"

Anti flinched, clenching his eyes shut and still shivering like mad.

Chase could just see Anti's back but it was clear he was terrified. Even more so than him, 'But . . . he's like HIM. . . isn't he? Does he really think he stands THAT little of a chance against him?!'

Antisepticeye slowly looked over to Sean who was watching everything glued to the back of the couch with wide eyes.

The glitch smirked down at him, "Seems everything was brought to me on a silver platter. You lot really are dumb aren't y-"

But before he could say anything more, Marvin shot a spell from his fingertips. Not aimed at Antisepticeye himself but SEAN!

'What the FUCK!?' Sean shut his eyes in that moment, thinking he'd either die or finally 'hopefully' wake up but when he opened his eyes again, he was just as shocked as everyone to see Antisepticeye in front of him.

The mad man growled at them all, having just swat Marvin's spell away, "Honestly . . .. I really didn't think you'd have the guts. Guess I was wrong about one thing, huh, Magician?"

Antisepticeye suddenly felt a familiar energy behind him and turned to see Jackie with the Pheno gun ready to fire.

"TAKE THIS, ASSHOLE!!!" he fired the gun but just as before, Antisepticeye thought HE was being aimed for only for Sean to be the target!

Antisepticeye deflected the shot just in time with a shield of his own making with the Pheno energy he stole. Now he was pissed. He had to resort to that? Saving SEAN!?

'Time for a little reverse psychology' Antisepticeye was the one to grab Sean now, holding him to him with an arm over his throat.

Sean tried to struggle but that was WAY too pointless.

Antisepticeye smirked at them all, "You lot knew I'd protect him . . . . you idiots don't want to die or else you'd have let me kill you a long time ago. . . eh, Marvin? But I got a little something up my sleeve." he whipped out a knife and put it to Sean's throat.

"We all know that if Sean dies before any of you, we ALL die . . ." he titled his head with a grin, "Except him" he pointed to Anti, "BUT, I KNOW you all don't want Sean to suffer . . . right? I could make that happen and you all know it. All too well" he matched gazes with all of them.

They were in a stalemate but Antisepticeye had the advantage now.

"So here's what's gonna happen" Antisepticeye tapped his knife on Sean's cheek, ignoring how he flinched and tried to struggle, "I'm gonna go back to Henny's dimension . . with Seany-boy, here. . . . If you idiots aren't there, too, in one hour . . .. I torture him. And I know you lot don't want that on your conscious'"

They all stayed still. There wasn't much else they could do. Antisepticeye . . .was right.

Antisepticeye laughed under his breath, knowing he hit the nail on the head, "There. You got your terms. One hour. Else I torture him and come after you all anyway. Either way, I win. With or without your little toys" he licked his lips, holding Sean even closer to him, "See ya soon boys"

With a sudden glitch, he was gone, Sean along with him.

"SCHEISSE!!!" Henrik shouted, rippin his glasses off and through him across the floor.

Anti fell onto the floor on his knees, still shaking, holding himself, tight.

Jameson . . . he didn't know what to think but he was just as useless and terrified as Anti. What COULD he have done?

Chase just stared down at Anti, thinking about what just happened and what he had said before Antisepticeye had even arrived. He really had lost all hope, hadn't he? All the optimism he had given them before was all a lie.

Jackie was shaking but not in fear. In anger.

"DAMMIT!" He turned and punched the wall behind him, taking it out completely. It was just luck that kept the foundation from crumbling.

Marvin didn't look AS pissed but he WAS troubled. Looking back at Anti only confirmed his fears.

Chase scoffed, "Great . . . . now what?"

Henrik calmed just slightly, walking off to pick up his glasses that were now cracked. Marvin snapped his fingers, repairing them for him.

The doctor sighed, not even phased by it, "I think we all know . . . vhat must be done"

They were all silent, not wanting to say it outloud.

Until Jackie turned back around to face them, "We have to fight him"

Anti snapped out of it and turned around to them, heavily bringing himself back up to his feet, "ARE YOU FUCKING CRAZY!? YOU'LL DIE!"

Chase huffed, "We'll die anyway, Anti"

"BUT- . . . " Anti stopped himself, trying hard to think of something. Anything, "But you don't have to! Marvin! He can still bounce to other dimensions! You all can-"

"He'll still find us, Anti" Jackie stopped him, " . . . . And you know that . . don't you?"

Jameson signed to Anti, 'Even if we can't do much . . . I especially can't and I know that. I don't want Sean to be tortured on account of us. I've run too much. I can't be a coward forever'

Anti flinched, "But . . . but you'll all die" he whimpered, "Please . . .please don't do this!"

Marvin came up to him, "If you come with us, we might just stand a chance!"

"No you won't!" Anti argued, shouting at him, "I know you've been planning on me fighting with you! I KNOW that, but you're WRONG! I'll only be a hindrance to you and you know it! I can't fight him!"

"Yes you can!" Marvin tried to convince him, "You're just as much of an Antisepticeye as he is! But good! You have the same power!

"No, I don't!" Anti yelled, " . . . . Are you fucking BLIND!? He absorbed all that power! Henrik's Pheno energy . . . even if it wasn't a lot, his power is magnified! I didn't stand a chance against him before and I ESPECIALLY DON'T NOW!! I GAVE UP A LONG TIME AGO WHEN MY FAMILY DIED IN MY ARMS!!"

Chase grabbed his wrist, "Look . . . you say you've given up . . . but I don't buy that. Not one bit"

Anti cried, not even able to pull away from him.

Chase continued, "You could have let Antisepticeye kill me when he arrived here. But you shoved me out of the way and you stood in front of me to protect me. You can't deny that"

"So what?" Anti snorted, tears still running down his face, ripping his hand away from Chase's grasp, "I didn't want you to die in front of me. I couldn't handle that. And that's why I can't go with you. I can't watch you all die AGAIN. . . . I can't do it. I'm sorry"

Jackie sighed. He was about to say something he might regret but Anti needed to hear it, "I don't think the other Jackie saved you just for you to be even more of a coward. He'd want you to fight with us. . .. and you know it. It's a shame. I thought you were better than that."

Anti flinched and swallowed thickly but glared back at him, "I guess . . . I guess you were wrong, then . . . both of you"

Henrik breathed in deeply, "Very well . . . we can't force you. Marvin?"

The magician nodded but walked up to Anti, pulling something out of his robes.

He took out a large green marble, "Here. Take this"

Anti stared at it, " . . . wh-what?"

Marvin took Anti's hand and put the large marble in his palm, "I've been working on this. Drawing from all the energy in the house. . . . their spirits are still here, you know. I can feel them"

Anti shuddered but couldn't say anything.

"I drew in what little I could. I'm sure if you wanted, you could call upon them. Using my magic, you could even see them again one last time."

Anti shuddered out a breathe, " . . . . wh-why are you giving me this?"

"If you decided you DO want to fight with us . . . . I put my power along with some of yours and the other septics' in that marble. You put that in your eye socket under that patch and you're back to full power like you used to be. Maybe even more so."

Anti couldn't believe it. All his previous power and then some . . . was in this little marble?

But it still didn't change his mind, "Marv . . . . I'm sorry. . . . but I just can't. . . . I can't fight him. Even with this. . . I'm not strong enough. I'll only . . I'll only fail you again. Take it back"

He tried to give it back to him but Marvin closed Anti's palm around it, "No . . . it's a gift. Keep it."

With that, Marvin turned away from him, facing the others.

Henrik wheeled the canon closer to them and Jackie gave Chase the Pheno gun.

"Here . . . you gotta take the next shot, Ace. . . . I'm no good with a gun, anyway"

Chase was reluctant but took it anyway.

Henrik pulled Jameson closer as they all gathered in front of Marvin, "You stay by me, James. If anything happens to the tech, I'll need your nimble hands to help fix it."

It wasn't much, but it gave Jameson something to aim for. Something else to think about.

Jackie met Anti's gaze again, "Anti . . . . You told me before the other Jackie stepped in front of you, giving his life for yours. You said he hated you, I say you're wrong. You say he'd be disappointed but I said he'd be proud of you. Maybe it's time you asked him for yourself if you still feel any doubt. Make it so . . . make it so his life wasn't taken in vain"

Anti could only watch as Marvin created the wormhole and led them all through it, leaving back to their Henrik's dimension.

When they were gone, Anti clenched the marble tighter in his hand, trembling.

'They're gone . . . . . again . . . . they're gone . . . . ' he cried shamelessly, holding the marble to his chest, 'What can I do? . . . . They don't need me . . .I'll only get in their way. They'll only die quicker with me there. I can't . . .'

His tears fell onto the floor below him, 'I can't go through it all again . . . . I'm sorry . . . I'm so fucking sorry. Please forgive me'

Sean looked up at Antisepticeye. He was scared but he had the feeling he could relax a little. The others would get there and save him, he just knew it.

Antisepticeye's back was facing him, looking out on the rubble left behind from the mini Pheno's blast. It had taken out the whole house along with a couple miles of range. Thankfully, Henrik lived well enough away from the city, though, so there were no casualties besides the mansion and wildlife surrounding the area.

'The doctor made a large weapon' Antisepticeye thought to himself, 'Not that it'll matter. They couldn't have gathered up as much energy that was in their mini Pheno container. They don't stand a chance, no matter what they believe'

He glanced behind him at Sean who was sitting on the ground, 'Pitiful. Just like the last one. If they don't show up soon, I might just have to suade my boredom torturing him anyway'

"Uh . . excuse me? Sir?"

Antisepticeye's eyes widened and he turned slowly to face Sean, 'Is this one really that stupid?'

Sean's bright green hair infuriated him, making him squint dangerously, "What?"

The color in Sean's face left his body but he still tried to speak, "W-well . . . . I was wondering . . . is this really not a dream?"

Antisepticeye grinned, his teeth gleaming like a shark's, "Do you want me to prove it to you? I'm sure the color red could convince you very much unlike the color green, it seems. You really are stupid, aren't you?"

Sean sputtered, "I . . well . . uh. .. nevermind" he whimpered out.

Antisepticeye snorted, "I've killed two of you before. I'm sure the others have caught you up on everything . . . killing you again won't be any different nor any more difficult for me."

"But . . .why?"

Antisepticeye turned fully to face him, glowering with rage barely hinged, "Why what?" his nose scrunched.

"Why kill me?" it just didn't make sense to Sean, "I mean . . so many times? Only to have to do it over and over again and again? The others said. . . the other YOU said it was like a never-ending cycle. But he was able to break it . . . so why can't you? Don't you think you'd . . ." he cringed as Antisepticeye just seemed to look more pissed off but he finished his thought, "Don't you think you'd be happier if you weren't doing the same thing over and over again?"

"You don't understand" Antisepticeye shook his head and rolled his eyes, "And you never could understand. You lot are all too soft. Weak and spineless. I was not born. I was created. For this purpose. My other derivative was just as he was named. A glitch. He's a bug that needs to be wiped out just as much as the others and when I'm done killing them AND THEN you, I'll go after HIM, finally ending his misery after I've made him suffer to my liking."

Sean didn't say anything more. How could he? There just . . there wasn't any reasoning with this guy.

'I shouldn't piss him off. If this isn't a dream and what those guys said was true . . he could still torture me.'

All he could do was hope that they'd come.

He HAD to BELIEVE they'd come.

"Well now" Antisepticeye sneered, "For once, I'm a little surprised. But not by much" he straightened.

Marvin appeared through a wormhole with the others behind him.

Sean was keen to see, though, that Anti hadn't joined them, 'Is he coming later? Like a surprise sneak-attack or something?'

Marvin and the others stood a good ways away but close enough that they could still see each other and their movements clearly.

Chase mumbled to Marvin, "So . .. what's the plan? We really didn't discuss one before coming here"

Jackie muttered to him instead, "Don't get killed, for one. Two . . . . we need to get you a clear shot so you can shoot him. If that don't work, me and Marvin need to be able to distract him while Henrik, you and Jameson power up and aim the Pheno canon his way regardless if Marvin and I are in the cross-fire. Good enough plan?"

Chase didn't like it but it was better than nothing.

He sighed, giving in, "Fine . . " he had the gun in his hands, remembering his training from years ago, "Just give me an opening and I'll get him. My nickname ain't Ace for nothing, you know"

Jackie nodded.

Antisepticeye laughed, "You know . . . you idiots don't stand a chance, no matter WHAT you're planning, right!? Even the other me knew you'd die! That's why he's not here! Because he's a COWARD!"

'HE'S NOT A COWARD!' Jameson signed fiercely.

Antisepticeye glared at his hand gestures.

Jameson went on, though, 'He's stronger than you'll EVER be!'

Antisepticeye snorted, "Then why isn't he here? Hm?" he laughed, "Look, I know you morons are gonna fight but if you want, I'll humor you. . . . if you give up now. . . I'll make all your deaths as painless as possible. Sean's too. How's that sound?"

"FUCK OFF!" Chase yelled at him, gaining courage, "We all may have been scared of you at one time or another . . . but NOT ANY MORE! IF WE DIE TODAY THEN WE GO DOWN FIGHTING, YOU PIECE OF SHIT!!"

Antisepticeye frowned, 'What a nuisance.'

He cracked his neck and breathed out softly, "Very well . . if that's really how you want it. No more talking. It's time to finish this"

He stood in front of Sean and Marvin stood in front of the others.

This was their chance now.

The moment it had all come to.

If only EVERYONE was actually there.