Antisepticeye's whole body was tense. The entire room vibrated with intense energy from the huge stem of light before them.

But something seemed wrong with it.

"What the fuck IS that thing!?" Marvin shouted.

"Dammit, Marv!" Henrik yelled back at him, "Remember vhat I said in the cave!? Mind your language!"

"Daddy, I thought we were all hopping around random? I wanna go home! Where are we now?" Olivia didn't even pay Marvin any attention.

"I don't know, dear" Henrik hugged her, patting her head before further examining the core, "But zhis is a massive wall of energy. Even more than the Pheno energy I had stored"

"Really?" Marvin asked, "What's that mean? Could we use it somehow?"

Antisepticeye growled low, "Maybe I could-"

"No" Henrik stopped him, "Anti has your powers and you'll get them in time. Besides, there's no way to know that you absorbing this power wouldn't just kill you instantaneously."

"Why would it? The Pheno energy didn't" Antisepticeye argued.

Henrik rolled his eyes, "But zhe Pheno energy WOULD have in a little more time if you still had it in your body. Did you not realize what it vas doing to you? Even Anti was going to until he realized he wouldn't live long afterwards. None of us are compatible with that amount of power inside of us. No one is."

"But it's possible for a while" Antisepticeye bounced back.

Henrik pinched the bridge of his nose, ". . . .y. . .Yes. I fear you are not hearing me, though"

"Oh, I heard you" Antisepticeye glanced to Marvin, "The Pheno energy originally came from you. Tell me. . . is this energy really too much different?"

"Yes. It's massive and would literally cook you from the inside. We're safe from the radiation for now but if you or anyone else happened to absorb all of it? Almost instant death"

Antisepticeye didn't really expect that but still kept his thoughts to himself, ". . .okay. . . " He wouldn't let them in on what he was thinking just yet.

The lights flickered and the room rumbled and moved.

Olivia grabbed hold of the closest person to her. Which just so happened to be Antisepticeye.

Antisepticeye never liked being touched.

He tolerated Gab's touch.

He wanted to swat the child away but something stopped him.

Upon feeling the rupture in the energy, Henrik opened up a control panel in front of the light, "It's some kind of core. . . . and zhis is a space ship. . . tis the WARP core! Zhe one that destroys zhis universe in zhis story!"

Marvin didn't like that conclusion.

Antisepticeye found he wasn't paying attention and an inner conflict was rushing in his head.

His whole body shuddered and tensed. This little girl holding onto him as if he'd protect her. . . .

So many things were happening all at once. The room was shaking and rumbling, there were sirens going off, red lights were blinking off and on and all the panels and screens were covered in warnings.

Olivia started to cry and hugged him around the waist, "I'm scared"

Now Marvin WOULD have ripped Olivia away from Antisepticeye, worried for her safety. But something was happening.

He could see it.

Something vital.

Marvin found himself remembering how Anti said HE had deviated from his initial 'programming'.

The kids.

Antisepticeye's one eye twitched, 'She . .. she knows I'm the enemy. . . right? Why's she . . .. what's happening?'

He still hadn't even moved to touch her. He couldn't make up his mind.

'I . . . I had no problem killing the kids before. . . .so what's different?'

Fear welled inside of him.

'Have I . . . . have I really changed that much?' he knew what the answer was.

He wanted to choke on the air he was breathing, 'This. . . this little cockroach. . .' he suddenly found his will to move and was about to shove her off of him, 'If she really thinks I'm gonna stand here and pretend to give a shit about her, she's-'

"Uncle Anthony, I wanna go home. Make all the bad go away " she cried in his shirt, getting it wet.

Antisepticeye stopped all movement again.

'How did she. . . . How did she know that name?'

Little did the parents know, Olivia and Iris weren't in their rooms before Actor came to ruin everything. They had been listening and watching everything from the top of the stairs.

Olivia heard Antisepticeye tell the others he wanted to be called Anthony.

Antisepticeye suddenly felt something burn in his chest.

He didn't know what this feeling was.

He found his hand had gently fallen on Olivia's back to hold her.

'I. . .. is this how it started for . . . HIM, too?' he thought about Anti and how he may have deviated. He didn't know the story of how but he knew it was because of the family.

Antisepticeye felt something wet roll down his cheek but he quickly rubbed it away. He didn't want to be seen crying in front of the magician and the doctor no matter how preoccupied they already were.

Henrik was working furiously on the warp core and Marvin was trying his best to help, every once in a while, looking back to check on Olivia.

'Gabriella' Antisepticeye thought of her, ' . . . you did this, didn't you? You started this . . .these feelings. Brought me out. . . .showed me what I was missing.'

He looked down on Olivia who looked up at him as well, still scared.

But not of him.

'This is a new, weird thing. . . . . . but . . . I'm not . . .I'm not mad about it.'

He pat her head, "It's gonna be okay, little one. . . . . I'll . . . I'll protect you"

Suddenly the warp core made a LOUD wailing noise before abruptly whirling into a calm hum.

All the warnings on the screens and panels went to normal and the red lights and sirens turned off as well.

Marvin slapped Henrik on the back, "Did you just disable the fucking WARP core!? The thing was supposed to DESTROY the universe! And YOU stopped it!. . . .HELL YEAH! YOU'RE THE BEST, HEN! What do we do now?"

But before Henrik could even say anything, Marvin shrieked, "OH MY GOD!!"

"vHAT!?"

"MY POWERS ARE BACK!"

Henrik laughed and shook Marvin, "GOOD! GET US ZHE FUCK OUT OF HERE!"

"LANGUAGE!"

"SHUT UP!"

Olivia turned around and smiled wide, "Does. . . does this mean we can go home now, daddy!?"

Henrik then realized Antisepticeye was holding onto his daughter and rushed over, awkwardly grabbing her back, "Yes . . .YES my little mouse! We'll see mommy and Iris again and all your uncles!"

Antisepticeye was surprised he found he was sad that Olivia was taken from him but he was also elated to be out of this fucking nightmare and that he could finally see Gab again.

And get his powers back . . .and kill Mark.

Marvin grabbed hold of Henrik who had picked up Olivia in his arms and held out his hand for Antisepticeye to take.

Marvin wasn't going to say anything to him but he had seen his interaction with Olivia and had just a little more trust in him now.

"Ready to go? Anthony?"

That feeling welled up in his chest again.

Antisepticeye cleared his throat and nodded, "Yeah, fuck, let's get the hell out of here already! What took you idiots so damn long!?"

"So sorry, I was busy trying to feel where everyone ELSE was, too!" Marvin rolled his eyes, taking out his crystal ball to search for everyone, "Looks like whatever happened spanned across all the stories. Evan, Anti, Dark and Jackie have their powers back, too. They're all in Darkiplier's universe it seems."

"Let's go. We need to plan what to do next before Mark makes another move" Henrik told them and looked to Antisepticeye, "You'll be getting your powers back soon. Excited?"

Antisepticeye didn't reply and just grabbed Marvin's wrist, letting him rip them away from the spaceship.

Anti locked eyes with Dark, taking note that Jameson and Evan were with them as well.

"Dark" he mildly greeted him.

The normally stoic man of shadows nodded back to Anti, "Anti . . And Jameson .. . It's good to see you again, although I still can't understand you"

Jameson nodded to him with a smile and gave him a tiny wave.

Dark nodded to Evan, "I'm sorry, I don't believe we've met formally. I'm-"

"Oh I KNOW who you are" Evan crossed his arms, "Just because you're stuck in this with us doesn't mean a lot of us still aren't upset with you. You know this is all your fault, right?"

Jameson signed to Evan but the magician rolled his eyes, "Don't defend him, James! If he hadn't barged in on our universes, then Mark wouldn't have snatched us, too and involved us in his little horror show!"

Dark couldn't defend himself, he knew Evan was right, "I . . . . . . I'm sorry. You're right. I was so focused on gather power for myself to go against him, I fell right into his trap. . . . again"

Anti snorted, "Guess you SHOULD have just talked it out with us first, huh?"

Dark raised a brow at him but refused to acknowledge what he said. He wasn't going to go THAT far in apologizing just yet.

Suddenly a chef came barging into the warehouse with a man they assumed to be Mark with a bag over his head.

The chef opened the cell they were all in and shoved Mark inside, "Get in there!"

"Oh, we're in the date story" Dark remarked, "Where nobody pays for the meal and the chef kidnaps us to-"

"Stay in there! You're on tomorrow's menu! HAHAHAAHAHAH!" The chef laughed and backed away slowly, leaving the warehouse.

Mark ripped off the bag on his head and looked thoroughly scared, "Alright. We gotta get out of here. We gotta find something that can help us escape."

He lunged for Anti, "Let me see what's in your pants!"

Anti jumped back with a small shout but Dark was the one that ripped Mark back and shoved him against the cell grates.

"Oww!" Mark whined, "Okay! Alright then, fine!. . . ." he felt his own pants pockets and bit his lip, "Oh . . ..uh" he pulled out a wallet, "Wouldn't ya know it. . . found my wallet!"

"How do we get out of here already!?" Anti was already fed up, "This Mark is too handsy for my liking"

"At least you weren't in the cave with Illinois" Dark shrugged, "He has a real tendency to be. . . . sensual"

"Ewww!"

Evan rolled his eyes, "Anti seriously? You act like you've never been with anyone before . . ." he paused before raising a brow at him, "Haven't you?"

Anti just blushed, "Well . . . no, of course not! I've been . . .. busy . . . and stuff"

Jameson shook his head, 'Loafing around the house whining about how you miss the others isn't busy'

"Shut up, James!" Anti scolded him.

Evan wanted to gasp, "ARE YOU A VIRGIN!?"

"SHUT UP!" Anti blushed red, "Seriously!? Right in front of the enemy!?"

Dark scoffed, "Enemy!? Are we not working together in this? And why would I care!?"

"I don't know! CAN WE JUST CHANGE THE SUBJECT?!" Anti thought he'd pass out, he was so red. It wasn't like him to get so flustered but this topic was more than he could handle.

Evan chuckled under his breath, "Is it because you might be gay and you're around someone that doesn't have any septic ties?"

Anti ignored him, turning around completely, fuming. He crossed his arms and you could almost see the steam coming out of his head.

He knew Jameson was signing something to Evan but he didn't dare turn around to see what it was.

'I thought he was just ace' Jameson signed to Evan, 'He's never expressed any interest in ANYONE before!'

Dark was SORT of interested in what was happening even though he couldn't fully understand James, he caught the gist. Yes, he was interested in the gossip. Anything to stop listening to Mark jabber on about how they were going to escape the cell.

"You know, I don't think discussing sexual orientation is appropriate in this predicament." Dark saved the glitch.

"Alright, alright" Evan gave in, rolling his eyes.

Anti peeked behind him towards them, "Look . . .. Can we just try and figure out how to go forward from here? What happens when the stories are over? Are we fighting together or will you fight us, too, Dark?"

Dark blinked at him, surprised, "Actor Mark is my top priority. I'd prefer taking him down alone but . . .. he might be too much for even just me to handle. I'll work together with you all for now."

"For NOW?" Evan snorted, "Why the hell would you need to fight us at all anyway!?"

'We don't WANT a fight!" Jameson agreed.

"Dark, please. If we all take out Mark together. . . I want an agreement that we go our separate ways. You and yours go back to your universe and me and my family go back to ours and we won't ever bother each other again. Does that sound square to you?"

Dark was unsure but remembered what Gab had told him before all of this. If he had just talked first .. . . .

He nodded and held out his hand for Anti, "It's a deal.. . . .You're a lot different from Antisepticeye. I should have seen that before. I'm sorry it's all come to this.. . . You're right. We should have talked first"

Anti nodded and took Dark's hand and they shook on it, "Thanks. . . maybe we could actually be friends, after all, huh?"

Dark chuckled softly, "Let's not get ahead of ourselves"

"This concrete doesn't seem too thick!" Mark intercepted their talking, "We could try and probably dig our way out of here or we could try and pick that lock"

Evan looked at Mark like he was crazy, "Wouldn't picking the lock be the obvious choice?"

"I'm not sure which one would be faster. I was championship digger at my school. I won state. But I've never tried to pick a lock before. I don't think we have a lot of time. You have to dec-"

Suddenly Mark froze.

Dark's eyes narrowed, "Something isn't right"

"Something like this happened before" Anti voiced, "With a doctor. But it wasn't quite like this. He snapped out of a trance or something but he was forced back in"

Dark knew what he meant, "James and I saw it as well. Remember at the prison? My friend, Yancy broke free of Actor's control momentarily!"

Jameson nodded, remembering.

"It happened to Wilford, too!" Evan noted.

Dark's heart leapt at the mention of Wilford but didn't say anything on the matter, thinking on it, 'All of the Iplier egos. . . Actor can't control all of them at once again for so long. He's spread himself too thin between them all and transporting all of US throughout all the stories!'

"Ch-championship ddddddd-digger!" Mark glitched out, "You have to . . . you have to. . . ddddd-Decide! Decide! Decide! Decide! P̶A̶R̷A̸D̷O̷X̶ ̵R̴E̵S̶O̸L̴V̶E̵D̷"

Just then, they all felt a surge.

Anti gasped, suddenly feeling stronger and feeling the energy from the marble around his neck grow, too, "My . . my power! It's back!"

"And mine, too!" Evan grinned wide.

Dark felt hope well up inside of him and wasn't going to let this chance go to waste, "Here, grab hold of me! I can get us out and then we can get everyone else, too! Do you trust me?"

Anti locked eyes with him once again but he had no dilemma this time. He nodded and took Dark's hand.

Evan took Dark's other hand and held onto Jameson.

Dark pulled them in closer and teleported.

When Dark looked around next, he was in the manor!

He was so excited, he turned but faced Anti damn near nose to nose, forgetting how close they were.

Dark just let them all go before any awkwardness could ensue. He straightened his tie and and tapped his cane on the floor, "Right. . . Magician, can you find where the others are?

Evan took out a ball from his pocket and enlarged it, searching on his crystal ball, "Give me just a moment."

Anti took a step back and shook off his anxieties. This was it. It was coming close to a fight.

"I found Iris, Eva and that other girl that was with you" Evan told Dark, "Looks like they're in some sort of zombie apocalypse?"

"Get them first. Hopefully this isn't just a fluke and your other magician has his power back as well."

Evan was already looking, "My man looks like he's in space with Antisepticeye, Olivia and Hen. They're in front of a huge light or something"

"The warp core" Dark clarified, "When Mark said 'Paradox resolved'. . . . something must have happened THERE. We might see them momentarily."

"And Jackie, Chase and Stacey are in a . . . boardroom? With . . .. it looks like you and a bunch of other iplier egos. And Wilford is there, too!"

"The TV show." Dark nodded, "As it stands, go to the apocalypse first and grab the ones without power and then the TV show story world to grab the others. Then we'll have to get the women and children out of here completely and away from the fight all together. Anti, while Evan goes and retrieves them, I need you here by me and your friend, James, in case Mark shows up. I don't know why we have our powers back but we need to use them while we have the chance."

They all nodded. They knew what the all needed to do for now.

Jackie, Chase and Stacey were in a room together with all these other egos that looked similar to Mark arguing over each other.

Chase didn't care about that at the moment, though.

He immediately jumped to Stacey, "STACE!!" He wrapped her in a tight hug, "Babe. . . I didn't know if I'd ever see ya again!" he couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time.

Stacey hugged him back just as tight, "Chase. . . .I'm so glad we're back together again" she started to cry.

Jackie smiled. He just wished the moment could stay like this.

Over to the other side of the room, though, Jackie spotted someone familiar.

"Dark?"

Stacey pops up and gently breaks away from her husband, "That's weird. . . . And all these other guys must be the other Iplier egos, or at least some of them. I don't see Yancy here"

"Who's Yancy?" Chase asked her.

"Just a singing jailbird, sweety. Apparently Actor is controlling them all like puppets. Their all trying to fight the story but Mark has them all on a tight leash."

"The same kind of thing happened where were just at with Anti and that other chick, remember, Chase?"

"Other chick?" Stacey asked, "What other chick?"

"I guess she was around Dark when Mark teleported everyone." Jackie shrugged, "She's got nothing to do with this apparently"

Stacey hummed, "I don't know if I believe that"

"Shut up! Shut up! Warfstache's taken enough shit from you guys~!"

They all turned to see Wilford on the other side of the long table with a gun in his hand. Not an unusual sight for them by now.

"Wilford!" Stacey jumped, "Maybe HE can get us out of here!"

"Don't count on it" Chase sighed, "Mark's got him, too and Anti DID talk to him at one point and Wilford tried to help when he was untethered but it didn't work."

"Oh, that sucks"

"Look!" Wilford continued talking to the other Ipliers, "This is an opportunity that can't be missed! It's for everybody! . . .Not you"

He pointed to a strange man in a complete body suit that maybe supposed to be a superhero of some sort? Whatever the case, even Jackie was creeped out by it.

"And it's gonna sweep the nation so listen to old Warfie cause Wilford knows what's best"

The story Dark started to speak, "Look, Wilford. I appreciate what you've done for us. But how is this supposed to help us take back control? We are the heart and soul of this channel, after all"

Stacey was quick to realize, "It's a story Dark. There was a copy of him in the previous place I was at, too. Dark was with me, Eva and Antisepticeye and we had to watch a play story Dark was a part of"

Chase blinked, "What the fuck?"

"Don't worry, I kept Antisepticeye in line and the real Dark was a perfect gentleman. I had to really hit Antisepticeye a few times but it was alright"

Jackie was impressed, "Damn. Good for you"

"I'm still stuck at the part where you said Dark was a part of a play?" Chase bit his lip, trying to contain laughter.

Stacey shook her head, "Nah, it wasn't what you think. It was just some creepy monologue that Dark said Mark was forcing him to go over or something."

An android dressed in blue interrupted their conversation, continuing with the story, "I feel li-like it d-d-d-d-eviated from our primary ob-objective" he glitched out, "If we're to get ba-back on track, we need to re-reassign our goals and and unify into a ss-s-s-singular strategy."

Another man dressed as a cowboy hooted, "Well I think we're missing the bigger picture here! I was promised a 30 second spot! Now where was it, I got barely five there and I know how to count ta five! I know how to count to a good deal if ya know what I'm talking about"

"LOOOK~!" A well dressed man took his turn, "I think we've overlooking the most important detail here: I was supposed to be the host of that gameshow segment. I mean I AM Bim Trimmer~"

The superhero slid in, "I know I took a break from fighting crime to pursue a job in entertainment but this isn't what I had in might considering I wasn't even in that"

"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!?" Wilford laughed, "This is revolutionary! It's gonna change everything we know about television, trust you me!"

"Listen guys" the doctor stopped them, "I'm a doctor-"

"Dr. Iplier!" Jackie and Chase both shouted, "He's the doctor that broke free of Mark's control for a while!" Chase continued.

"Maybe we could get him to talk again?" Jackie wondered.

The doctor went on, "I'm a doctor. I know what's best. And it wasn't actually that bad. It featured my ideas quite well. And I came across as a very professional and handsome actor. So I say we keep it-"

A man in a bloody blindfold started to talk, "The camera shifts over the Host, who continues to talk about the situation and then it pans over to the next person-"

The cowboy butted in, "I know this is off topic, but I need to sell my son. I'm willing to go 10% off the whole price. Or take 90 actually. . . ."

"What the fuck? Who SELLS their kid?" Jackie wondered out loud.

A man in a king costume broke into the room, his face covered in peanut butter.

Everyone stopped to stare at him.

"I'm uh . . . . I'm King of the Squirrels."

Even Wilford looked confused.

"Look" story Dark put them back on track, "Wil. I respect you. I always have. But you're missing the point of this endeavor."

"Alright! Al. . . . ." Wilford started to choke, his whole body convulsing.

Suddenly, Wilford gasped and coughed like he had been drowned underwater, "Oh geebus! What in the seven hells just happened?!"

He looked over to Jackie, Chase and Stacey, "Oh hey there, guys."

Jackie sighed in relief, "Wilford! You're back! . . . right?"

"Well of course I'm back! Back where?"

"It doesn't matter!" Stacey cut the question off, "Wilford, can you get us out of here?"

Wilford shrugged, "Well I've tried that a bunch of times already. I don't know if it's gonna work this time. . . . . . say. . . is that old Darky?!"

Wilford ran over to story Dark but since the story was over, all the Iplier egos sat frozen in their spots, now not saying anything.

Wilford waved his hand over Dark's face, "Hey Buddy! Yoohoo! Hello? Anyone there?"

He took out his gun, "Maybe if I shoot him, he'll wake up? Worth a shot" he laughed at his own joke, getting ready to pull the trigger.

"Wilford wait!" Chase stopped him, "It's not really Dark. It's just the story version of him. And everyone else here are Mark's puppets. Mark trapped them all in the story and is controlling them against their will"

"Oh . . .. . well that ain't no good"

Wilford looked around at the egos, "Hmm . . .. I remember saving all of them before. . . . . all the times I kept popping in and out of existence and through time . . . .. did it really mean anything? . . . . . . Seems like a . . . worthless endeavor after all this now, doesn't it?"

Was. . . was Wilford having an actual moment?

"Wilford?" Jackie tried to get his attention but it wasn't working.

Wil just started at story Dark's frozen body, "Oh, my old friend. . . . . You never deserved any of this. It's all because of me. Because I loved the wrong woman. It was the last straw for him, wasn't it? I always assumed it was. And Mark killed you and Celine in some sick fantasy of his to be what he always dreamed of being. The best. The hero. And he deemed you the villain. It's not fair, is it? It was always ME that was supposed to be the villain. Not you"

None of them could believe this. In the time they had known Wilford, it was in this moment they saw his true self and not the crazy insane man from before.

'Anti was right' Jackie thought to himself, 'With everything going linear for him again, Wilford seems to be. . .straightening out? Making more sense?'

'Dark' Chase was understanding the story a lot better now, 'He was Damien before and Mark turned him into what he is now. He's punishing Dark this entire time, isn't he?'

Stacey walked up to Wilford carefully, "Wilford?" she gently pat his shoulder, " . .. . William?"

Wilford reached over his shoulder and carefully pat her hand, showing he knew she was there, "I know . . . . None of YOU deserve this either. I'm sor-"

"Paradox Resolved" Story Dark suddenly spoke.

Wilford jumped, "GEEZ! What in the- HUH!?"

But it was like a switch turned on and Jackie could feel it, "Something's different."

Wilford hummed, "Oh well I don't know about that but I DO know I think the warp core has been disrupted in the space story, putting an anchor in Mark's plans. I think everyone's powers are back . . . Think I almost pissed myself"

". .okay!" Jackie shouted, "Then you can get us out of here now then, right?!"

Chase kept Stacey close to him again, "You have to try!"

Wilford shrugged, "Alrighty, I GUESS I'll give it a shot but don't blame me if you end up a splattered mess of goo on the other side"

"Wait, what?" Stacey asked.

But it was too late and they were suddenly standing in a large extravagant room.

"WELL WOULD YA LOOK AT THAT! IT WORKED!" Wilford shouted.

"William!?" a voice alerted them all and they all found Dark, Anti, and Jameson in the same room as them.

The Septics wasted no time rushing towards each other.

Anti and Jameson found themselves in a hug fest with Jackie, Chase and Stacey.

Anti didn't want to let go of any of them, "You guys just missed Evan! He was with us but since he got his powers back, he went to go grab Eva, Iris and that other girl, Gab in an apocalypse!"

"In a WHAT!?" Chase stopped him, "You know what? Nevermind. I've had enough stories for the day. Do you guys know what happened and why we got our powers back?"

"No, but I have a theory" Dark made himself known, "Mark has spread himself too thin doing too much all at once and let his guard down. That's why some of the Iplier egos had momentarily broken free of his control"

"DARKY-POO!" Wilford wasn't listening and lunged at him.

Dark was surprised by Wil's shout but let the man hug him tightly. He wasn't normally one for affection but he had to admit, he DID miss him, too.

"William. . . it's good to finally see you again, old friend"

Wilford couldn't even say anything, still hugging him tightly.

"What's the plan?" Stacey brought up the obvious question, "Surely that Mark guy knows by now what happened. Are we ready for what might come next?"

Anti nodded to Dark and answered her, "The plan is that Evan goes to retrieve the others and if Marvin, Olivia, Henrik and Antisepticeye don't get here on their own, Evan will go fetch them, too. Then we get Eva, Stacey, Olivia, Iris and that Gab girl out of here and face Mark all together."

"Pretty solid" Jackie nodded, "What do we do if Mark just takes our powers away again?"

"I don't think he can" Dark gently pushed Wilford away but still kept him close, "He's already broken down so much."

"But he's been taking our powers all this time" Jackie argued with him, "No, I think he's planning for something bigger and if that's the case, we need to hurry. As soon as we get Henrik, we need to get to Septic house and grab that Pheno Canon Gun. Everyone still have their potions from Marvin, too?"

Everyone but Dark and Wilford nodded.

"Potions?" Dark asked.

Anti laughed lightly, "We were sort of planning on using them against you before all this story mess happened."

"I see. Good. At least we have more ammo against him." Dark didn't seem bothered, "Now we just need to wait for the magicians to come"

Eva immediately saw Iris and lunged for her daughter, "Iris! My little angel! Are you okay!? Mommy's here!"

"MOMMY!" Iris had woken up from her nap in the diner and found herself on a road with her mother and the strange nice lady from the picnic world.

Eva caught her and held her tight, "My baby!"

Gab watched with a heavy heart.

'All these Septics love each other so much. I still can't believe Anthony willingly teamed up with them.' something still burned in her, though, 'But he he just come for me? Or did he come for a rematch against Dark?'

She really wasn't sure where Anthony's feelings laid. He always insisted he didn't care about her. He just did as she asked and spent time around her . . .

But was it because of affection? Or was he just always in it for the sex she introduced him to?

Gab was happy for the mother and daughter in front of her, though. The Septics deserved whatever happiness they got.

It's not like SHE deserved any after everything she's done.

Gab was still a murderer. Just because she stopped doesn't mean that erased her past.

Eva was in front of Gab, pulling her out of her musings, "Hi! I don't believe we've PROPERLY met yet! I'm Eva!"

Eva gave her a big smile and held out one of her hands since the other was busy holding her little girl.

Gab shook her hand, "Hi. . .. I'm Gab. It's nice to meet you again. We were in space together with Dark and Jackie when we were pulled into this, remember? I was by Dark when-"

Eva snorted, "Oh, I remember, honey, but I'm not ignorant. I'm a scientist with many Master's Degrees. I think I can spot when someone is lying. You were the 'weapon' Dark stole from Antisepticeye, right? But I know better. You two are together!"

Gab blushed red, "I . . . I don't know . . . I think you're . . . wrong, there." she tried to save herself, "I mean, we're not . .. together. I don't even know who . . you're talking about?"

Eva raised a brow and whispered to Iris, "What do you think, sweety? You believe her?"

Iris shook her head, "Nope!"

"Yeah, me neither. I may also be a scientist but I'm ALSO a woman who has been in young love before and honey, you got it BAD!"

Gab couldn't say anything.

Eva just smiled, though, "It's okay. I know you're unsure. You're afraid and that's understandable. You know it's funny, though. Whenever I was stuck in a story with Antisepticeye . . . all he could talk about was his goal to get back what Dark stole from him."

Gab blushed even redder, ". . . .really?"

Eva's smiled softened, "He's a lot different from a year ago, you know. Before, he wouldn't have cared if he had to kill EVERYONE to get what he wanted. But now . . . he's actually working together with people he hated and tried to kill . .. to get to YOU. You changed him. You should be proud of that"

Gab's heart swelled, "I. . . . . .. . thank you. . . but please . . .. don't tell anyone?"

Evan giggled, "Don't worry. Your secret is safe with me. But just so you know. . . it won't stay a secret forever. Everyone else WILL find out eventually."

"I know. . .. I'm just . . not ready. I'm-"

"Scared?" Iris provided, "It's okay to be scared sometimes. That's what daddy and Olive say too!"

Gab just smiled, feeling happier than she had been in a long time.

Suddenly story Mark appeared and started to talk, "I don't think anybody's here. It must have been an old broadcast. Maybe there's still some supplies we can scavenge-. . . . . . . .Paradox Resolved."

Eva and Gab stared oddly at the story Mark who started to move in a strange way, spasming.

Until he stopped and smoothly fixed his outfit and smiled over at them.

"Ladies. . . . It's good to see you."

Eva held her daughter even closer, "Mark . . . I mean . . . Actor Mark?"

Mark blinked slowly but nodded, "Call me whatever you want. It won't matter. The story is almost over and when it's done, the curtain closes on everything and everyone. . . except for me."

He waved a little at Iris, giving a sick grin, "Hello little girlie. Are you ready for the big finale?"

"Mommy" Iris whined and hid her face in Eva's neck.

Eva growled menacingly, "Don't even LOOK at my daughter, you creep! Let us go! We have nothing to do with your quarrel with Dark!

"On the contrary" Mark argued, "Your husband stopped the warp core which put a big halt on my story. Irritating, really. Don't worry, I'm not here for YOU." He turned to face Gab, "But YOU. . . . You're different, aren't you? No wonder Dark went to fetch you from that other universe."

"Wh-what?" Gab took a step back from him. She was still powerless and that was painfully clear to her.

Mark chuckled, "Oh my dear. . . . .I could sense that power from the beginning. I've been taking all of your powers, siphoning them all into me. Taking yours was harder but not impossible. Dark tried to be too quick about it before. That's why he failed in taking it. And now that the warp core is deactivated, I stopped taking everyone else's powers. Why would I need theirs? . . . when I could just have yours?"

Eva hopped in front of Gab, "Stay away from her!"

"STAY OUT OF THIS, BITCH!" Mark slapped her across the face, flinging her to the side with Iris still in her arms.

"Mommy!"

Eva could feel a bruise already forming on her cheek and her vision was fuzzy but she saw Mark grabbing Gab.

Gab tried to get away but Mark's hold on her was like iron.

"I just need to focus on you and your power . . . focus on draining YOU. . . and then I'll be strong enough to kill them ALL. . . . . and take what is rightfully mine"

"GAB!" Eva shouted for her but it was too late.

Mark disappeared with her.

Iris was crying, clinging onto her mother, "Mommy, I'm scared! Why'd the bad man take her?"

Eva couldn't answer her. How could she?

But not even a few moments later, a familiar face greeted them.

"Evan!" Eva moved to try and stand up again but the magician helped her.

"Eva! It's so good to see you again! You and Iris okay? Where's Gab?"

"Mark! He took her!"

Marvin teleported Antisepticeye, Henrik and Olivia to Dark's manor and immediately, Marvin, Henrik and Olivia saw their fellow Septics and rushed to hug and greet them.

All the brothers were together again, hugging and near tears.

It made Antisepticeye sick.

Didn't it?

"Man, what a ride, huh?!" Chase laughed nervously, "But seriously, we need to get Stacey, Olivia, Iris and Eva out of here and back their own universes before Mark comes back!"

Stacey looked like she wanted to hit him, "I guess you're right but please just be careful, okay!?"

"Don't worry, baby, I will. Just take of our little ones until I get back to you, alright?" He kissed her.

Anti and Marvin both gushed, "Awww!!!"

"Actually, shouldn't Jameson go home as vell?" Henrik suggested, hugging Olivia still close to him.

Jameson put his hands on his hips, 'Excuse you? I'm not about to abandon you all! I can help! We've faced danger together before!'

No one disagreed with him.

"Marvin! Zhe Pheno cannon! It's back in my lab! Should we get it?"

Marvin just shrugged, "Eh, if we have time, I guess. We're just waiting on Evan to come back with Eva, Iris and that Gab girl, right?"

Antisepticeye swallowed.

Soon now. Very soon now he'd see her again.

But what would he say? What would he do? What would SHE do or say?

He found himself gnawing on his bottom lip and scratching at the eyepatch he wore.

His nerves were getting to him.

He didn't even realize Anti had come up next to him, "Hey are you doing alright?"

Antisepticeye flinched, "Yes, I'm fine! What of it!? FUCK OFF!"

Anti glared at him, "Something came to light earlier. I'm not sure what it means. Will you be okay to fight with us?"

Antisepticeye's own glare hardened on him but he remembered his moment earlier with Olivia. How he couldn't help but think . . . . His features softened a bit, surprising Anti.

Antisepticeye took a deep breathe, "How . . . ." he tried to ask, " . . . when was the first moment you realized it was worthless to continue down the path of our programming? What snapped you out of it?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Just answer the fucking question!" Antisepticeye snapped back at him.

Anti honestly didn't expect this. He NEVER expected Antisepticeye would ever ask him anything like this.

"I. . . . ." he didn't know how to answer him, ". . . . It was many years ago. I was getting ready to make my first kill. I was at Chase's house. I remember stalking through the upstairs hallway with my knife. I was humming. . . happy to start spilling blood"

Antisepticeye blinked. He wasn't expecting this. The way he spoke. . .it sounded just relatable to how HE used to be.

"I didn't want to kill Chase right out of the gate. I wanted to hurt him" Anti continued, "I found little Jack's room first. I opened the door. I was going to kill him in his sleep and watch him choke on his own blood as the light slowly left his eyes"

'I. . . I would have done the same thing before. I killed the boy and his mother. These other Septic's original family' Antisepticeye thought to himself, remembering.

"I opened the door and hovered over his bed only to find Jack had a game on his bed he was trying to play by himself in the dark.. . . ." Anti smiled softly, remembering, "He was so young back then. . . . . so small. . .. we had never been children before so the concept was so strange. Seeing this . . .small and silly person. So innocent to everything. He . . . he knew I wasn't his father but he knew something. He SAW something that I didn't. He just smiled at me and took my hand and he asked me to play with him since it needed two players"

Antisepticeye was remembering Olivia's innocent eyes looking up scared and begging for comfort earlier the warp core room. She saw something in HIM too. . . didn't she?

"I was stumped" Anti smiled with a shrug, "I was programmed just like you to kill but right then and there . . . . I don't know what happened. It was like a switch flipped. I started asking myself the question of 'why'? I started to feel all these other feelings. I played one game with Jack but of course you know that wasn't the end. I wanted more. I stalked them all. Got in their heads. My original Marvin brought them all together to come against me. I scared them but since I met Jack, I didn't care. I. . . I watched them. Saw how they all were with one another. All their own families joined together as one and they were all so . .. happy together. And I found. . . I found myself wanting that, too."

Anti scratched the back of his head, "Long story short, I guess. . . .the kids. The kids snapped me out of it"

Antisepticeye realized then. . . . maybe they weren't so different after all.

Dark tensed, "They're coming!"

Everyone stopped talking as just as he said, Evan appeared with Eva and Iris and . . . .. that was it?

Everyone noticed the missing person.

But Antisepticeye was the first to say anything.

"Where's the other one?!" he was still careful with his words, "Wasn't there another girl? She's . .missing, right? Not that I give a shit!"

Dark rolled his eyes.

Anti stared at him, unsure of his motives, still.

And Eva just looked. . . sorry?

Henrik ran to her and Iris along with Olivia, "Vhat happened, love? You're hurt!"

Eva set Iris down on the floor for Olivia and hug and she hugged Henrik, "Mark . . . . Mark TOOK her"

"What?!" Jackie seethed, "Why? Why the hell would he want a normal girl?"

"Maybe for ransom?" Chase suggested.

"Why, though?" Marvin asked, "He already has a ton of power over us, right? Supposedly? Why use a girl we've never met to hang over us? It doesn't make sense"

"Perhaps she's NOT a normal girl?" Henrik asked the real question.

"Whatever, the case" Dark shifted in, "We shouldn't dawdle! Take the women and children and get them OUT of-! WILFORD PUT YOUR PANTS BACK ON!!!"

They all turned to see Wilford had his pants down around his feet and he was in his underwear. . . with hearts all over it.

Anti groaned, remember seeing this already from his chat with him earlier.

Wilford looked offended, "Well why should I? It's actually very freeing. I was like this earlier in my interview."

"PUT THEM BACK ON!" Dark practically shrieked.

"Why?"

"THERE'S CHILDREN HERE, YOU IDIOT!"

"Oop!" Wilford blushed a little and bent over to pick up his pants, "I guess you're right! Sorry there kiddos!"

Olivia and Iris giggled, laughing, though and Iris clapped her hands, "You're funny, Mr. Bubbleman!"

Meanwhile, Antisepticeye was having an existential crisis.

'He TOOK Gab?' he wanted to punch something. He wanted to KILL something!

'Once again. . . . she gets taken from me . .. over and over and over again!'

Everyone started to agree, though, with Dark. As fast as they could, they said their good-byes.

Chase kissed Stacey one more time, "I love you, okay? I'll get back to you. I promise"

"I know you will, Ace. I believe in you"

Henrik rubbed Eva's bruised cheek softly, "I love you SO much. . . Olive. Iris. You take good care of your mother, yes?"

Olivia and Iris were still so scared, though. They were having to say good-bye to their father AGAIN. After JUST getting the whole family back together, too!

Iris and Olivia hugged their father and Iris looked up to him, "Love you daddy. Please come home again"

Henrik started to tear up, "I vill . . I swear I vill"

Eva kissed him, "I love you. Be careful"

"You too" he held them all tightly, "I love you all, my girls. Just remember that"

Evan shoved himself onto Marvin and surprise kissed him deeply. Marvin melted into it and gripped Evan's face, kissing him just as hard.

When they pulled away, Evan slapped him softly, "When this is all over.. . . . I'm proposing to YOU."

Marvin looked apprehensive at first but smiled, "How about we live to see tomorrow, first? Come back as fast as you can"

Evan kissed Marvin's forehead, "I will. Hold down the fort here. I'll be back faster than you can say, 'hurry up'."

Marvin hugged him, ". . . Hurry up"

They parted and Evan stepped over to Stacey, Eva, Olivia and Iris to get them out of there so they'd be safe and then he'd return with Henrik's Pheno Cannon gun.

But just as Evan started to teleport, there was a deep rumble in the room like an earthquake!

Eva lost her grip with her kids and just like that, they were gone without her!

Dark's breathing hitched. He felt that presence again just like it was just moments ago.

He turned and looked up.

Jameson pointed, 'There! On the stairs!'

"He always DID love stairs" Wilford nodded.

But something was different about Mark.

Very different.

For one. . .. he seemed to have a cane of his own and it glowed a strong white.

And there was the girl, being dragged along behind him by something that resembled a leash that was glowing.

She looked to be in pain.

It was Gab.

Antisepticeye's eyes widened.

He could hear his heart thumping in his chest.

The blood roaring in his ears.

All he could feel . . ..

He remembered this feeling like it was yesterday. This need to kill. Just as intense as it was a year ago when he faced the Septics.

But this time it was different.

He'd kill for HER.

Antisepticeye couldn't stop himself and yelled out at Mark, anger overflowing his very core.

"LET GO OF HER! GABRIELLA!"